Smriti Mandhana breaks silence after wedding cancellation: ‘I don’t think I like…’ | Cricket News
Smriti Mandhana says one truth has become clearer to her than anything else over the past 12 years: there is nothing that interests her more deeply than cricket. India’s most accomplished left-handed batter in women’s cricket looked back on her journey, from making her international debut in 2013 to helping India win the World Cup last month, during a speech at the Amazon Smbhav Summit on Wednesday.
Mandhana spoke openly about what fuels her commitment every day. “I don’t think there is anything I love more than cricket. Donning the Indian jersey is the biggest motivation. No matter what you are going through, that thought alone helps you block it all out,” she said. Even as a child, she knew exactly what she wanted. “The obsession with the stick was always there. People around me didn’t really understand it, but in my head, I only wanted one thing: to be known as a world champion.” She described the World Cup victory as the result of years of hard work and disappointment. “This trophy is the culmination of everything we fought for. I played for over a decade and very often things didn’t fall into place. Before the final, we imagined this moment over and over again. When it finally appeared on screen, it really gave us goosebumps. It was emotional in every way.” The occasion was even more heartbreaking with legends Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami watching from the stands. “We desperately wanted to win it for them too. Seeing the tears in their eyes, it felt like the whole of women’s cricket had achieved something. It was a victory for all those who came before us.” Mandhana shared the biggest lessons she learned from her triumph: “You always start from zero, regardless of your previous score. And never play for yourself, that’s something we kept telling ourselves.” The event also marked Mandhana’s first public appearance since she confirmed the annulment of her marriage to the musician. Palash Muchhal.
