“People now demand for a E-sala-cup-namdu,” says Smriti Mandhana

Smriti Mandhana, a pioneering figure in Indian women’s cricket, is one of the most celebrated players all across the globe. In an exclusive episode of RCB’s podcast, Bold & Beyond, she revealed exclusive untold stories from her early cricketing days, relationship with RCB, impact of the WPL on her professional career and much more, reminiscing the cherished moments she has enjoyed and relished in her cricketing life.

Mandhana was an achiever since childhood and her love for sport was instilled in her from a rather young age. She spoke about the impact her school has had on shaping her as an athlete.

“School, I feel, was very helpful. Both my parents wanted my brother and me to play sports, as sports was the first priority and studies were second. As soon as we shifted to Sangli, my parents started looking for schools where sports was a compulsory subject. That allowed me to try out every sport,” Mandhana recalled, crediting her upbringing and her school’s strong focus on athletic participation.

During her childhood, Mandhana traveled to Meerut for a cricket tour, accompanied by her father. She recalled how a local bat manufacturer, likely RS, observed that she was using an oversized bat and decided to make one specifically suited to her smaller build. The gesture left her thrilled to the point where she struggled to sleep for two nights. Reflecting on that moment in a conversation with host Mayanti Langer, she expressed how receiving the custom-made bat felt like a defining moment in her journey.

As one of the costliest buys in the inaugural season, Mandhana brings leadership and aggressive stroke play to the team. Her elegant left-handed batting and experience is a treat to watch. However, with fame and reputation comes responsibility.

On balancing the key aspect after being paid at par with the men, Mandhana said, “I’m a Marwadi (laughs).. Brandwise, it only reflects how you play on the field. People may get busy with superficial things like making brands, but my main priority as a brand is to do what I do on the field. If I don’t do my job on the field, those superficial things won’t exist. 80% work is to be done while playing while the rest 20% can be taken care of steadily and progressively in future. Confidence is what will surely reflect on the field as well.”

The league aimed at breaking stereotypes and promoting inclusivity for girls in India. For a game that has been handsomely dominated by men, the inception of the league drew unprecedented love and engagement. Jam-packed stadiums with the respective fan armies of franchises hurled in huge numbers on weekdays as well.

No sooner did RCB lift their maiden title in 2024, the Delhi metro turned claustrophobic with reverberating chants for the new champions. People had their moments of pure jubilation in celebration, and most importantly and proudly, this time- it was not for the Dhonis or the Virats or the Bumrahs.

“I took my mom to an Eliminator game of the RCB in 2016 and my mother was amazed by the sheer fan following and craze of the men’s team. She asked me when we will have such an atmosphere for women’s cricket in India- to which I profoundly denied. Cut to 2025, I saw people flocking to Chinnaswamy stadium where people flocked in huge numbers- and it took me back to 2016. When I walked out for the toss, it was a very happy moment, and I felt really good for the entire women’s community.”

Though the Challengers enjoy a reputed fan base, an elusive cup was missing from the trophy cabinet. When the women’s team clinched their maiden title, it was a surreal moment for the girls to receive a guard of honour in front of the home crowd.

Talking about the experience, the stylish Indian batter said, “The first thing for me is that they never treat us with ‘the women’s team’ tag but called us as a part of the RCB team. It was such a nice gesture by the management. From the first year, I had the feeling of giving back all the love and faith instilled in me by the management.

“Wherever I’ve been, the fan following has been tremendous, and people now demand for a E-sala-cup-namdu. The feeling of equality and guard of honour was truly expected but indeed special. Waking at the Chinnaswamy with the trophy with all the greats of the game was an incredible moment. Being a shy person, I thoroughly enjoyed the lap of honour and will always remember the day.”

Discussing her association with RCB, Mandhana highlighted the franchise’s focus and commitment towards inclusivity. She appreciated that RCB treated the women’s team with the same respect as they would the men’s team.

“They never ever said that, ‘Oh, this is a women’s team.’ They were clear that this is an RCB team, and we will treat it as an RCB team. We just finished the auction, and, in three days, we were playing for the franchise. So, you somewhat don’t connect because you’re just playing in three days. But this side of the management made me feel that I really want to give back to the franchise and the management,” said Mandhana, highlighting the special connection she feels with the franchise as she reflected on the swift transition from the auction to gameplay.

Reflecting on her landmark achievement as the first Indian woman to score a double hundred in an under-19 tournament, Mandhana recounted the serendipitous nature of that innings.

“I really didn’t know that it coincides with Sachin sir’s last Ranji Trophy match, but for me that 200 was something I didn’t know was going to happen as we were playing Gujarat and I was captaining Maharashtra, I was forced to bat, but from there to now it’s unbelievable how women’s cricket has changed,” she reflected marveling on the rapid evolution in women’s cricket.

As Mandhana gears up to lead RCB in the WPL 2025 season opener on February 14, she stands at the intersection of opportunity and experience. All eyes will be on her to see if she can add yet another title to her already illustrious career and with the WPL becoming a key part of the women’s cricketing landscape. Mandhana’s leadership will be crucial not just for RCB’s title ambitions but also for creating new benchmarks in the game.

(Quotes sourced from RCB’s podcast Bold & Beyond)

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