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“First time in 2.5 years…”: Mandhana jokingly cries after winning fielding medal

Aakash Saini

Smriti Mandhana in the dressing room [Source: @BCCIWomen/x]Smriti Mandhana in the dressing room [Source: @BCCIWomen/x]

Smriti Mandhana racked up a match-winning century against New Zealand Women in match 24 of the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. Batting first, the legendary opener minted 109 runs off 95 balls with 10 fours and four huge sixes to share a huge 212-run partnership with fellow centurion Pratika Rawal.

Apart from scaling a couple of huge batting records in the process, Smriti Mandhana also attained another feat for the very first time in her career: winning a fielding medal in the Indian dressing room.

Century and a medal for Smriti Mandhana

Smriti Mandhana was awarded the coveted fielding medal by India Women fielding coach Munish Bali after obliterating New Zealand at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday, October 23. The Indian vice-captain picked up three catches in the game, including the one to dismiss a well-set Amelia Kerr.

Upon receiving her medal, Smriti Mandhana jokingly sobbed and said:

“First time winning this medal since the ritual was introduced 2.5 years ago.”

Earlier in the same match, Smriti Mandhana also racked up a couple of huge batting records through her sizzling century. Cracking 109 runs off 95 balls during her huge stand with opening partner Pratika Rawal, Mandhana became the world’s leading run-maker in Women’s ODIs as an opener, surpassing New Zealand senior batter Suzie Bates.

The elegant left-hander also launched four sixes in her innings to tonk 31 maximums this year, thus becoming the highest six-hitter among all Women ODI batters in a single calendar year in history.

Smriti Mandhana’s catching and century catalyzed Indian win as the ‘Women in Blue’ qualified for the semifinal of the 2025 ICC Cricket World Cup.