Twelve years into an international career that has reshaped Indian women’s batting, Smriti Mandhana remains remarkably clear about what anchors her. Success, pressure, personal change, and even historic triumphs all funnel back to one constant — cricket — and the responsibility that comes with wearing the Indian jersey.
Speaking at the Amazon Sambhav Summit on Wednesday, Mandhana articulated that clarity with disarming simplicity. “I don’t think I love anything more than cricket. Wearing that Indian jersey is the motivation that drives us. You keep all your problems aside, and that thought alone helps you focus on life,” she said, capturing the mindset that has defined her rise and longevity at the top level.
Smriti Mandhana at the Amazon Smbhav Summit on her first love 'cricket'🗣️
"I don't think I love anything in life more than cricket. I always tell everyone that once you put on the jersey, you just keep all your problems aside and just be on the field because you have a… pic.twitter.com/nsNlKQEohC
— Sportstar (@sportstarweb) December 10, 2025
A childhood obsession that never faded
Mandhana traced that focus back to her earliest memories with a bat in hand. Long before accolades and World Cup medals, there was an unshakeable pull toward batting and a dream few around her fully understood at the time.
“As a kid, the madness for batting was always there. No one understood it, but in my mind, I always wanted to be called a world champion,” she said, describing an ambition that quietly guided her long before it became reality.
That vision eventually materialised last month when India lifted the Women’s World Cup, a moment Mandhana described as the culmination of years of effort, patience, and near misses.
“This World Cup was the reward for the battle we fought over the years. We were waiting for it so badly. I’ve been playing for more than 12 years — many times things didn’t go our way. We visualised it before the final, and when we finally saw it on the screen, it gave us goosebumps. It was an incredible, special moment,” she said.
A victory that carried deeper meaning
For Mandhana, the triumph carried emotional weight beyond the scoreboard. The presence of senior figures who had shaped Indian women’s cricket amplified the significance of the moment.
“We really wanted to do it for them, badly. Seeing tears in their eyes made it feel like women’s cricket itself was winning. It was a battle won for all of them,” she said, referencing stalwarts such as Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami.
The World Cup also reinforced lessons Mandhana believes are essential for sustained success, regardless of personal form or past achievements.
“You always start an innings at zero, no matter if you scored a hundred before. And don’t play for yourself – that’s what we kept reminding each other,” she said, underlining the humility and team-first mindset the squad leaned on throughout the tournament.
The mental discipline of representing India
Mandhana returned repeatedly to the mental demands of international cricket, describing how representing India sharpens focus and leaves little room for distraction.
“When you go out to bat or when you represent your country, I don’t think any other thoughts are there in the mind. When you put on the Indian jersey, the only thing you want to do is represent India and win the match for your country,” she said.
That single-mindedness, she explained, extends to how the team handles internal debate — something often misinterpreted from the outside.
“I don’t look at it as an issue,” Mandhana said, dismissing the idea that disagreements within the camp signal instability.
“Everyone has their own opinion on how we will win the game for the country. But genuinely, if we don’t have those discussions or arguments, we aren’t winning on the ground. Because if we do not have those sorts of discussions where we are disagreeing about something, that means we are not passionate enough to win the match for the team. So, we definitely do have those sorts of discussions.”
Focus forward, anchored by the same constant
In recent weeks, Mandhana has navigated personal attention alongside professional success, but her public remarks made it clear that her compass remains unchanged. With India set to resume international action and domestic commitments ahead, she continues to frame every phase of her career through the same lens that shaped her as a teenager.
For Mandhana, titles may be won, chapters may change, and challenges may surface — but the motivation remains immutable. The jersey, the team, and the game still come first.
