When Smriti Mandhana made her international debut in 2013 as a bespectacled left-handed batter, the existence of women's cricket lingered on the margins of our collective consciousness. More than a decade later, women's cricket has grown from a mere footnote to the main text in our sporting discourse, and at the forefront of this transition stands Mandhana's meteoric ascension to stardom. Her journey from obscurity to stardom mirrors the evolution of the sport as a whole too. Mandhana brought a dash of flamboyance to the Indian batting unit, a stroke-filled game that was just way ahead of the time. And now, the fate of Indian batting depends so much on her form that if she's in her rhythm, India are already the favourites to hunt down any target. 

It's not just efficiency that makes her stand out; the sheer beauty of her batting is equally mesmerising, evoking a sublime sensation. Her strokes have the power to cut across cold numbers and leave a deep imprint on your psyche. Yes, her cover drives have been a subject of eternal fascination, but there's more to her game, be it her authoritative cut or pull or the way she charges down the ground–there's a sense of presumptuous ease around everything she does. She could climb the boulder up the hill, and yet there would hardly be a trace of weariness on her face. She could just whack your fastest delivery straight over your head, and you see there's hardly any outline of ecstasy on her face. It's easy for her. It's natural. "I always hated defending," said Mandhana last year, in a photo shoot with Hyundai Motor India Limited for the last season of The Drive Within. Nothing testifies to her love for aggressive strokeplay as this little nugget: her strike rate among top-five run-scorers in the shortest format of the game is second to none. India's pursuit of the most coveted prize in women’s cricket hinges heavily on the contributions of Mandhana, who has never shied away from shouldering the responsibility. That’s what she has been doing for over a decade now. The immense weight of expectation doesn't weigh her down but uplifts her spirit to do well for the team.

Q1. How did you prepare for the world championship? 

Ans. We have been working on fine tuning our skill sets and a lot of practice games to get the game experience, practicing match situations. Fielding has been another area of focus for us as a group. 

Q2. What's most exciting about going into the tournament? 

Ans. As a young kid, you're always looking upto your role models playing at the world stage and that's where you want to be. The best part of any such tournament has to be the opportunity to take on and play against the world's best talents 

Q3. What are some of the core areas of your game that you’ve worked on? 

As I said, I’m going in with a holistic approach. I’ve been working on building partnerships at the top, starting strong and rotating strike. I’ve also been looking at all three departments as a team; fine tuning the batting, bowling and fielding. 

Q4. What drives and motivates you to stay consistent and focused? 

Ans. First and foremost it has to be purely my love for the sport. I remember, as a kid, I always loved being on the cricket field, playing cricket on the streets, anything to do with cricket I just loved it. After I started playing for my country, I take that responsibility seriously. I always want to perform my best for my country and also keep pushing my limits as a cricketer. 

Q5. Complete this sentence, 'What is The Drive Within Smriti Mandhana?'  

And. The drive within Smriti Mandhana is to keep showing up for her country, performing to the best of her abilities and as a result of it, to be able to inspire at least one young girl to pick up the cricket bat and play for India. 

Q6. You’ve been associated with Hyundai Drive Within campaign for three years now. How has the support from them been? 

Ans- It's incredible to see brands coming to support our sport, especially women's cricket. Hyundai Motor India Limited has been associated with women's cricket for a while and it’s great to see their continuos support. It goes a long way in taking women's sport to even greater heights. 

Q7. In fact, your partnership with the brand dates back to the launch of the Hyundai Alcazar in 2021. And now we have the 2024 model. How has your journey with Hyundai Motor India Limited been so far? 

Ans- My journey with Hyundai Motor India Limited so far has been great! They've been more than just sponsors—they've been true partners in every sense. Their commitment to empowering sports and athletes resonates with my values. I've had a great time shooting with them, bringing the campaign to life. 

Q8. India's been spectacular this past year. What's helped you move forward as a team? 

Ans. It's been a good year for us as a team. The belief and trust in each other on and off the field has helped us tremendously in playing as a unit. We really like playing together and playing for each other. Additionally, the hunger to keep improving and taking Indian women's cricket to a greater height also pushes us to do better each time we take the field. We're working along with our support staff to ensure we're working towards our collective goal. 

Q9. Three words to describe Smriti Mandhana on the pitch 

And. I would like to believe – Resilient. Happy. Fearless. 

Q10. How has your batting evolved over time? Do you think there is more dynamism in your batting now than 10 years ago? 

Ans. Yes, certainly, the game of cricket has evolved over the years. When we were starting off, our aim was always mainly towards building long innings for a test match. With T20 cricket becoming huge, we have naturally had to adapt to the change it has brought about in cricket. We're always trying to add to our skill sets, whether it is in terms of speed, endurance or range of shots. 

Q11. What's your go-to pre-game meal or ritual that gets you ready for a match? Do you have any superstitions? 

Ans. Goto meal generally depends if it's a day match or a night match. If it's a day match just a good breakfast with either a dosa or an omelet or some sabudana khichdi for good carbs. If it's a night match also, it's the same so that carbs will stay throughout the match. For Pre-match rituals, I don't think I have any superstitions. I used to have a lot before but now I think now it's just trying to stay calm and not think a lot. So, there is nothing in particular–just like to take my time before getting ready for the match. 

Q12. How do you handle pressure and expectations? 

Ans. Pressure and expectations are a part of our sport, it comes with the game. Over time, you learn how to deal with them in equal measures as you deal with your highs. Its important to keep your head down and keep working hard towards your goal. I also tend to like utilizing the pressure situation and channeling it into my performance.

Q13. You come across as a camera-shy, introverted person, but now being a national icon, your every step is being followed. Does this constant attention get tiring at times? 

Ans. I like to keep professional and personal life different. After spending so many years in front of public eye, you want to keep certain parts of your life to yourself, it brings you that calm and comfort in your life. I don't think the attention is tiring, I appreciate the public adulation, however after a point, its important to know where to draw the line at a personal level. 

Q14. There was almost a two-year period in which centuries didn't come in the ODI before you ended the drought with 117 against South Africa. How do you deal with such a lean phase? 

Ans. It's important to realise as an elite level athlete that not all days are going to be successful days on the field. Lean phases are actually what teaches you the most in your career. As they say, some days you win and other days you learn. These are the phases that teach you resilience, to believe in yourself, your ability and keep doing the grind. 

Its also important to have the right team with you, whether it is your friends, family, teammates, your coaching staff or well-wishers. Their belief in you also keeps you going. 

Q15. What are your thoughts on the current state of women's cricket, especially after the inception of the WPL? 

Ans. Indian women's cricket is at a great stage right now, especially since the inception of WPL. It has given our home-grown players the experience and platform to play and learn. This will eventually take the standards of women's cricket to another level as this gives everyone the opportunity to learn from each other. 

Q16. How has the experience of successfully leading RCB been? 

Ans. Leading RCB has been an incredible experience—both challenging and rewarding. The role has taught me a lot about leadership, decision-making under pressure, and how to bring out the best in each player. We had our ups and downs, but what stood out was the unity and resilience of the team. Working with such a talented group of players, both domestic and international, has expanded my perspective and helped me grow as a leader. 

Q17. Who are some of your biggest influences or role models in the world of cricket? 

Ans. Biggest influence growing up was Kumar Sangakkara. I used to love watching his batting. Then definitely got inspired a lot from Meg Lanning and recently playing alongside Elyse Villani. Just watching her go about her routine has actually inspired me. 

Q18. If you weren't a professional cricketer, what do you think you would be doing instead? 

Ans. If not a cricketer, I think I would either be a chef or may be doing some business, because I like doing something around business and taking those sorts of decisions. 

CREDITS:
Photographer: Rohit Gupta (@rohitguptaphotography) / Keegan Crasto (@keegancrasto) / Public Butter (@publicbutter)
Stylist: Bornali Cardeiraa (@bornalicaldeiraa)
Senior Art Director: Hemali Limbachiya (@hema_limbachiya)
Creative Producer: Suprit Parulkar (@supritparulkar)
Production: Pillai Home Production (@pillai_home__production )