When Rahul Dravid’s bat fuelled Smriti Mandhana’s epic 224 at the U-19 level

Poulomi Chakraborty

Smriti Mandhana Smashed Double Hundred With Dravid's Bat (Source: @ICC/x.com, @RandomCricketP1/x.com) Smriti Mandhana Smashed Double Hundred With Dravid's Bat (Source: @ICC/x.com, @RandomCricketP1/x.com) 

In the '90s, people were mesmerized by Sachin Tendulkar's batting flair, Sourav Ganguly's aggression, and Anil Kumble’s magic with the ball. Amid this golden era, a quiet yet unshakable figure from Bengaluru, Rahul Dravid, stood out, his calm demeanor and rock-solid batting consistently leaving fans in awe.

While every young cricketer dreamed of batting like him, Smriti Mandhana had a unique chance to bat with Rahul Dravid’s own bat. Making moments unforgettable, she turned the iconic weapon into magic, smashing a sensational double century.

How the bat makes its way to Smriti

In Indian cricket, fans welcomed another jersey number 18, who is making waves with her exceptional batting. Smriti Mandhana stunned the world with her heroics, but her roots in cricket run deep. She’s not the first in her family to pick up the bat. In fact, two other family members have played competitive cricket.

Smriti’s Father, Srinivas Mandhana, and brother, Shravan Mandhana, are former district-level players. Her father represented Sangli in his cricketing career. Smriti Mandhana drew inspiration from her brother, who was making waves for Maharashtra Under-16. The reason behind her being a left-handed batter was also influenced by her brother, Shravan.

Rahul Dravid’s iconic bat has also made its way into Smriti’s life through her brother Shravan. The former Indian captain had gifted the bat to Shravan, and Smriti later got the incredible opportunity to wield the iconic weapon herself.

Smriti gives the perfect tribute to the Indian legend

Rahul Dravid’s contribution in Indian cricket can not be described in words. With a perfect stance, the ability to perform under pressure, and the ability to build strong innings to flip the game, ‘The Wall’ carved his legacy. When Smriti Mandhana got a chance to bat with his iconic bat, she channeled his brilliance; her stellar under-19 performance became a living testament to Dravid’s influence.

In 2013, Smriti represented the West Zone Under-19 tournament and batted with the iconic bat. After scoring a thrilling century, she didn’t stop as she played an iconic knock of 224 runs in 150 balls against Gujarat. Behind every powerful stroke, there was the legacy of a legend, carried forward by a rising star ready to make her own mark.