Star Indian opening batter Smriti Mandhana clinched the prestigious ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2024 award on Monday, January 27. The 27-year-old left-handed batswoman was in exceptional form throughout the year, playing 13 ODIs for the Women in Blue. With four centuries and three fifties under her belt, Mandhana amassed a total of 747 runs.
Not only did Mandhana shine with the bat, but she also showcased her bowling skills by picking up a wicket in three matches.
This victory on Monday saw the Indian star equal the record of New Zealand's Suzie Bates, who has also won the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year award multiple times. Mandhana had previously claimed the same award in 2018, while Bates had triumphed in 2013 and 2016.
In the race for the top prize, Mandhana outshone South African captain Laura Wolvaardt, Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu, and Australian all-rounder Annabel Sutherland.
Wolvaardt, like Mandhana, impressed with her batting prowess in ODIs last year, scoring 697 runs in 12 matches. Meanwhile, Athapaththu accumulated 458 runs in nine matches for Sri Lanka.
Recognizing her outstanding performances, Mandhana was also named in the ICC Women’s ODI and T20I Team of the Year 2024 alongside all-rounder Deepti Sharma. Wolvaardt, who led South Africa to the T20 World Cup 2024 final, was appointed as the captain of both the ODI and T20I teams.
