EXCLUSIVE | If not a cricketer, I’d be a chef: Smriti Mandhana

From watching her brother go for cricket training sessions to the entire nation cheering for her Smriti Mandhana has come a long way in her cricket journey to become one of the most formidable players of the Indian womenrsquos cricket team Her path in the sport is studded with multiple achievements and recordsbull First Indian woman player to score a doublecentury in an ODI match at any level 2013bull Only Indian woman player to win the ICC Womenrsquos Cricketer of the Year twice 2018 and 2021bull First captain to lead Royal Challengers Bangalore to the Womenrsquos Premier League WPL trophy 2024The vicecaptain of the Indian womenrsquos cricket team added more feathers to her cap in the recently concluded series against South Africa becoming the only Indian woman cricketer to score consecutive ODI centuries and matching Mithali Raj in scoring most ODI centuries 7 for IndiaWhile these records are a testament to her skill therersquos more to her than the facts and figures you see Ahead of the 2024 Womenrsquos Asia Cup middaycom caught up with Mandhana to discuss her cricketing journey unconventional life choices and interests beyond the sportldquoI have always loved cricketrdquoThe Arjuna awardwinning cricketer made her international debut in 2013 at the age of 16 What made her choose cricket and ace it at such a young age we ask ldquoIve always loved cricket even as a child Like most kids I remember batting was my favourite part of gully cricket I later realised there was much more to the gamerdquo Mandhana admitsHer love for the game germinated from a seed sown by her family her father and brother having played domestic cricketldquoActually watching my parents take my brother to training sessions sparked my interest My father always dreamt of his children representing the country so cricket was a frequent topic at home What sealed the deal for me was seeing my brother play in Under16 tournaments The initial sparks turned into dreams for me as he excelled at the junior level with his name appearing in local newspapersrdquo she revealsldquoDespite the challenges and doubts about making cricket my profession I made a bold choice and took the leap and here we are todayrdquo she addsldquoAnyone can pursue cricketrdquoUnfortunately cricket had long been considered a menrsquos sport a social mindset that was evident by the popularity divide between menrsquos and womenrsquos cricket However this distinction is gradually reducing bringing back focus on the sport and not the genderReflecting on the role gender plays in the sport she says ldquoCricket to me is simply a sport where anyone regardless of gender can pursue their passionrdquoShe continues ldquoI am fortunate to come from a family that never differentiated between boys and girls Ive had the freedom to make choices throughout my life and have always been supported by my familyrdquoAlso Read Vidyut Jammwal on CRAKKs setbacks mastering Kalaripayattu amp upcoming fim with AR MurugadossldquoFitness is very importantrdquoA sportspersonrsquos life is characterised by intense training which requires a disciplined lifestyle shiftldquoI believe that discipline is crucial when striving to achieve something and staying disciplined should be a deliberate decision As a cricketer prioritising fitness is very important Working towards fitness is a form of selfcare and brings me a sense of alignment and discipline in liferdquo says MandhanaIn a game that demands high pace and stamina fitness is given as much importance as skill Not only is it a crucial factor in playing well but also instrumental in recovering quickly from injuries Being well aware of this Mandhana dedicates considerable time to daily fitness activities We ask howldquoI kickstart my day with a good breakfast and hit the gym afterward Even though it can be tough I usually enjoy it Endurance training is key for cricket because it helps prevent muscle fatigue After that I plan out my day based on what needs to get done especially focusing on training sessionsrdquo the lefthanded opening batter revealsldquoI also try to find a bit of me time whenever I canrdquo she adds upon being asked what else a day in her life entailsldquoCooking is a passion for merdquoEveryone knows who Smriti Mandhana is on the cricket field The world associates her with her performance and achievements However we were curious to know who she is beyond cricket and what she does when she is not on the pitchldquoI enjoy gamingrdquo she is quick to respondldquoCooking is another passion of mine I enjoy cooking immensely whenever I have the timerdquo she reveals adding ldquoIf I werent a cricketer Id pursue a career as a chef This interest is what inspired me to open the SM 18 CaferdquoThe SM 18 Cafeacute by Smriti Mandhana is located in Sangli her hometown The 18 in the name matches her jersey numberldquoWe have created countless memories togetherrdquoThe path to success becomes easier when you have people who support you and believe in you Mandhana agreesldquoAs I mentioned earlier my family is the main reason I got into cricket They have been incredibly supportive standing by me through every high and lowrdquo she saysBut her family is not the only support system to have made her journey memorable ldquoWhen it comes to my teammates we constantly root for each other and have created countless memories together What I value most is the support and camaraderie during challenging timesrdquo she addsSmriti Mandhana celebrating with her teammates after a win Pic AFPldquoEmbrace bold choicesrdquoFrom choosing to become a sportsperson to emerging as a top cricketer Mandhanarsquos journey has been shaped by unconventional choicesRuminating about the same she says ldquoA piece of advice that I always carry with me wherever I go is to be authentic and take the leap by making bold choices in life It might be daunting but it promises a rewarding futurerdquoMandhanarsquos persistence to carve her path has also led her to collaborate with cricketer Virat Kohli and actor Vidyut Jammwal on a new TV ad campaign lsquoChoosebold 20rsquo for Royal Challenge Packaged Drinking Water The campaign celebrates people who play fearlessly by their own rules and embody the spirit of boldnessSharing a message for todayrsquos youth she says ldquoI believe in breaking barriers and forging my path in both cricket and life I see tremendous potential in todayrsquos youngsters and I would urge them to step out of their comfort zones and embrace bold choices Choosing an unconventional path often brings skepticism and criticism but rather than letting it discourage you use it as a source of motivationrdquo