Indian women's team opener Shafali Verma credited vice-captain and opening partner Smriti Mandhana for helping her stay calm at the crease in the ongoing T20 World Cup.
Smriti Mandhana may have smashed successive half-centuries to rediscover her touch, but the India vice-captain insists she is still nowhere near her best.
Former captain Diana Edulji believes openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma finding form quickly will be imperative and crucial to India's chances of winning the Women's T20 World Cup.
Smriti Mandhana is the only Indian named in TIME's 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026 list, joining global icons such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James after another record-breaking year in cricket.
Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana shares insights into the Indian women's cricket team's preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup, emphasising the team's good form and hard work ahead of the tournament in England and Wales.
Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana surprised fans with a glamorous makeover at the BCCI Naman Awards, showcasing a stunning metallic blue gown and inspiring young girls with a Barbie doll created in her likeness.
The Indian women's cricket team is set to face Bangladesh in a critical T20 World Cup Group A match, aiming to address persistent middle-order batting struggles and fielding lapses. While openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma have provided strong starts, the inability of the middle order to capitalise has put pressure on the lower order. India, currently second in their group, needs a strong performance to solidify their semi-final chances, especially after a recent loss to South Africa highlighted their vulnerabilities.
Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma sizzled with the bat as India coasted to an emphatic 95-run win over the Netherlands in their Women's T20 World Cup match.
Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has surpassed Mithali Raj to become India's highest run-getter in the Women's T20 World Cup. She achieved this milestone during India's opening match against Pakistan, where she scored a crucial 36 runs and anchored a significant partnership.
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has become the first cricketer, male or female, to play 200 T20 Internationals, achieving this milestone during a World Cup clash against South Africa.
India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has candidly discussed the challenges of managing menstruation while playing professional cricket, highlighting an often-unspoken issue in women's sports. She shared a personal experience during a Test match and emphasised the need for cricket's rules and administration to evolve to better support female athletes.
India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, will rely heavily on openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma to perform against a challenging Pakistan side in their ICC Women's T20 World Cup campaign opener.
India Women's cricket team, fresh off two commanding victories, prepares to face a strong South Africa side in a crucial ICC Women's T20 World Cup Group 1 match. The contest is expected to highlight India's powerful top order against South Africa's varied bowling, with both teams aiming to build momentum and address fielding improvements.
Deepti Sharma produced a career-best 5/10 as India defeated Pakistan by 64 runs in their Women's T20 World Cup opener at Edgbaston. Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur also starred in India's dominant victory.
Former India captain Anjum Chopra hailed Deepti Sharma as one of cricket's most influential all-rounders after her five-wicket haul against Pakistan, while also highlighting the importance of Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur to India's Women's T20 World Cup campaign.
Smriti Mandhana retains her second spot in the ICC Women's T20I rankings, while Harmanpreet Kaur moves up to 14th. Deepti Sharma also climbs to third in the all-rounders' rankings.
Nasser Hussain believes the Women's T20 World Cup has arrived at the perfect time for Deepti Sharma and Smriti Mandhana, while warning that India's bowling combination remains the team's biggest concern.
Senior BJP leader Smriti Irani has criticised the TMC government in West Bengal, alleging corruption and failure to ensure women's safety. She promised a monthly cash support of Rs 3,000 for every woman if the BJP is voted to power.
Former India captain Mithali Raj has expressed concerns over the Indian women's cricket team's bowling department, citing a lack of "role clarity" ahead of crucial ICC Women's T20 World Cup matches. She believes bowling is India's weakest link, especially with Shreyanka Patil's injury and an out-of-form seam attack, while praising the batting strength led by Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh.
Smriti Mandhana's growing influence goes beyond cricket as the India star features in a Class 5 textbook, inspiring young students while continuing to shine globally with major titles and awards.
Shubman Gill and Smriti Mandhana were named the Best International Cricketers at the BCCI Naman Awards 2026, recognising their outstanding performances in the 2024-2025 season.
Indian bowlers spun a web around Pakistani batters to kick-off their Women's T20 World Cup campaign with a winning start in Birmingham on Sunday.
Deepti Sharma starred with a five-wicket haul as India thrashed Pakistan by 64 runs in their Women's T20 World Cup opener in Birmingham.
Marizanne Kapp struck a scintillating 45-ball 81 as South Africa overwhelmed India by six wickets in their ICC Women's T20 World Cup clash, in Manchester, on Sunday.
Smriti Mandhana said India's failure to bowl enough dot balls cost them the T20I series against England and urged the team to learn from the setback ahead of the Women's T20 World Cup. Harmanpreet Kaur's return to form was a major positive.
India defeated West Indies by 26 runs in their first Women's T20 World Cup warm-up match. Bharti Fulmali's unbeaten 56 and strong bowling performances from Shreyanka Patil and Radha Yadav secured the victory, despite a batting collapse by the West Indies.
India opener Smriti Mandhana has risen to the top of the ICC Women's ODI Batting Rankings.
A 26-year-old police constable, Abhay Shrivas, was killed and his friend seriously injured when their car was hit by an unidentified speeding vehicle on National Highway 39 in Panna, Madhya Pradesh. The accident occurred early Friday morning, and police are scanning CCTV footage to identify the culprit.
Former India coach WV Raman believes the current women's team is the strongest in the country's history and has all the ingredients to win a maiden T20 World Cup, provided the pace attack delivers in key moments.
Freya Kemp's outstanding all-round performance propelled England to a 26-run victory over India in the second Women's T20 International, levelling the three-match series.
Smriti Mandhana was a major attraction in The Hundred's women's player draft, with Richa Ghosh securing a significant deal and Deepti Sharma also finding a place in the league.
The Indian women's cricket team will be looking to address their middle-order concerns in the final T20 International against England, aiming for a series-clinching victory ahead of the T20 World Cup.
The India vs Pakistan match in the Women's T20 World Cup created a new record as the most-attended group-stage game in the history of the ICC Women's World Cup.
Former cricketer Reema Malhotra believes the Indian women's cricket team is a strong contender to win the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup, largely because of its strong spin bowling resources.
Recent BJP organisational moves and Rajya Sabha nominations have sparked speculation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may soon undertake a ministerial reshuffle.
Having observed Rohit Sharma up close during his stint with Mumbai Indians, Afghanistan's rising spin star AM Ghazanfar is eager to put those learnings to the test when he takes on the Indian batting great in the upcoming ODI series.
India head into the Women's T20 World Cup with questions over their bowling attack, top-order form and squad balance. Harmanpreet Kaur's side will need key players to deliver if they are to challenge for another ICC title.
Smriti Mandhana retains her top position in the latest women's ODI batting rankings, while New Zealand players make significant gains after strong performances against Zimbabwe.
Smriti Mandhana stroked a brilliant 41-ball 87 in the final against Delhi Capitals as RCB chased down a record 204 -- the highest successful chase in the history of WPL.
The ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 is set to bring together the world's top teams for a month of fast-paced, high-stakes cricket, as they compete for the biggest prize in the shortest format of the game.
