ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025: Smriti Mandhana Chooses Process Over Hype For Marquee Event

As the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 draws closer, the cricketing world is abuzz with excitement, and a significant portion of that buzz surrounds India's star batter, Smriti Mandhana.

With an impressive record of over 9,000 international runs and more than 1,000 boundaries, Mandhana is undeniably at a pivotal point in her career. Yet, despite the mounting anticipation, she remains remarkably grounded, emphasising a focus on the fundamentals rather than the fanfare.

In a recent exclusive conversation on the Cricket Predicta Show with cricket scholar Sunil Yash Kalra, Mandhana articulated her philosophy. "I’ve always been a big believer in not thinking too far ahead," she stated. "We have to focus on the process, do every day right—and that’s the aim." This disciplined approach extends to the entire team, with Mandhana noting a collective calm.

"Even as a team, everyone’s calm. We’ve got a long road ahead over the next five to six months. I wouldn’t like to speak a lot about it. Cricket is such a game—you do your things right, things fall in place. Let’s just try and do that well."

Mandhana's commitment to the sport isn't limited to her on-field performance. She's also actively invested in shaping its future. Recently, she launched the City Cricket Academy by Smriti Mandhana in Dubai. This initiative is a testament to her long-standing collaboration with UK-based coach Don Bhagawati, who will spearhead the coaching responsibilities at the academy.

Mandhana spoke highly of their partnership, saying, "This is a great partnership for me. Right now, I’m focusing more on my cricket, and Don will handle the coaching." She humorously recounted her initial apprehension about Bhagawati's name, "I’ve known Don for many years, and when I first heard his name, I was scared. I wondered, who is this ‘Don’? But over time, Don and his family have become like family to me in England."

Don Bhagawati, a well-regarded figure in grassroots cricket in the UK, aligns perfectly with Mandhana's ethos of simplicity, discipline, and sustained development. Their shared vision for the academy is to cultivate a nurturing environment where young cricketers can hone their skills with enthusiasm, purpose, and strong values.

Smriti Mandhana's consistent performance speaks volumes about her talent and dedication. In Test cricket, she boasts an average of 57.18 from 7 matches, with 629 runs, including two centuries. Her ODI record is equally impressive, with 4,501 runs in 103 matches at an average of 46.4 and a strike rate of 87.93, featuring 11 hundreds.

In T20Is, she has scored 3,982 runs in 153 matches at an average of 29.94. As she prepares for one of the most significant tournaments of her career, Mandhana's unwavering focus on the process and her dual role as a leader on and off the field make a powerful statement about her enduring influence on the game.