Indian cricket star Smriti Mandhana has been named the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2025, marking another proud milestone in her remarkable career. The award was presented at a grand ceremony in New Delhi on February 16, recognising her outstanding performances during one of the most successful years in women’s cricket.
Currently in Australia for a bilateral tour, Mandhana shared a pre-recorded message thanking the BBC and reflecting on what she described as a “special year for women’s cricket.” As India’s vice-captain and a dependable force at the top of the batting order, she played a key role in several historic victories.
The award comes on the back of India’s triumph at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, where the team secured their first-ever ODI World Cup title. Mandhana was central to that success. She scored a brilliant 109 against New Zealand and finished the tournament as India’s leading run-scorer with 434 runs. Her consistency and composure under pressure made her one of the standout performers of the competition.
What truly sets 2025 apart, however, are Mandhana’s extraordinary numbers across formats. The elegant left-hander amassed a record-breaking 1,703 international runs in the calendar year, the highest ever by a woman cricketer in a single year. In doing so, she surpassed her own previous record of 1,659 runs set in 2024, proving her ability to continuously raise the bar.
Mandhana stood out in a competitive field of nominees, including captain Harmanpreet Kaur, chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh, and hurdler Jyothi Yarraji. Her win not only celebrates individual brilliance but also reflects the growing recognition and global rise of women’s sport in India.
At 29, Smriti Mandhana continues to inspire millions with her elegance, determination, and hunger for excellence. With records tumbling and trophies arriving, 2025 will be remembered as the year she truly defined an era in Indian women’s cricket.
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