Don’t Think I Love Anything More Than Cricket! Smriti Mandhana’s First Appearance After Calling Off Marriage

Star batter, Smriti Mandhana says her bond with cricket has only deepened. India's most accomplished left-handed batter spoke candidly about her journey, motivations and emotions during her first public appearance since ending her engagement with musician Palash Mucchal.

At the Amazon Smbhav Summit, Mandhana reflected on the path that has taken her from a 17-year-old debutant in 2013 to a World Cup winner in 2024. The vice-captain made it clear that cricket remains at the heart of her life. "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.

Mandhana recalled that her passion for batting began

long before she entered the national setup. Even as a child, she believed she was destined for the sport. "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 noted.

For Mandhana, lifting the trophy a month ago was not just the result of a good tournament - it was the culmination of years of setbacks, resilience and unrelenting commitment. "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.

The presence of legends Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami during the final added emotional weight. Mandhana admitted that the team wanted to win it "for them" as much as for themselves. "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.

Reflecting on the campaign, she shared two lessons that continue to guide her: every innings begins at zero, and cricket is always bigger than the individual. "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 added.