Smriti Mandhana has created history by winning her second WPL season for RCB. Here's everything you must know about her journey from the lanes of Sangli to the world and WPL champion.
The Women's Premier League 2026 has finally ended after a thrilling finale with Royal Challengers Bangaluru taking their second trophy home. Once again, the star with the headline act was captain, Smriti Mandhana. She not only led RCB from the front but also crossed the 1,000 run mark in WPL history during the 2026 finale match against Delhi Capitals on February 5, 2025. Her impressive knock of 87 off 41 in a daunting run chase once again proved why she is the heartbeat of RCB's batting unit. Amid the new achievement in her hat, let's take a look at her journey from Sangli's lane to two-time WPL champion and orange cap holder.
Long before Smriti Mandhana shone under the stadium lights, her cricket story began in the quiet town of Sangli in Maharashtra. She was born in Mumbai on July 18, 1996, and grew up in a household where cricket was a daily conversation. The star batter's father, Shrinivas, and her brother, Sharing, both used to play cricket at the district level. Their passion for the sport fueled Smiti's interest in the game when she was 8. Although Smriti is a right-hander, she learnt to bat left-handed because her father admired the finesse of left-handed batters.
Although there were inadequate facilities for learning cricket in her hometown, Smriti used to train with boys on local grounds, wake up before sunrise for net sessions, and travel long distances for them. Subsequently, at 9, she was selected in Maharashtra's Under-15 team and played Under-19 cricket at 11. However, Smriti rose to national fame when she smashed 224 off 150 balls against Gujarat in 2013. Therefore, she became the first Indian woman to score a double century in List A cricket, which brought her to the national radar and fast-tracked her international debut the following year.
Smriti Mandhana's rise on the global stage was as swift as her cover drive. She had scored a half-century on her Test debut in England in 2014, which led the team to a historic win. Later, her match-defining wins in the 2017 World Cup grew her stature in the Indian Women's cricket team. Since then, the 29-year-old has collected multiple ICC honours and, in 2024. Smriti was named the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World after amassing 1,659 international runs in a calendar year. Recently, in 2025, the star batter became the first Indian woman to score centuries in all three international formats.
Smriti Mandhana was the most expensive pick in WPL's first season, going to RCB for Rs. 3.4 crore. But the captain did not disappoint the franchise. Despite her difficult first season, she captained RCB to their maiden title in 2024, becoming the first captain across the franchise to lift a trophy. Now, in 2026, she has earned the orange cap and crossed 1,000 career WPL runs in the 2026 final. She also became the highest run-scorer against the Delhi Capitals in league history with 87 off 41. All these achievements highlight why Smriti continues to be a star in International and Indian Women's cricket.
We congratulate Smriti Mandhana on her second WPL win as Royal Challengers Bengaluru's captain.
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