Smriti Mandhana trains for first time as full-time Indian skipper

[[{“value”:”

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has posted a video of Smriti Mandhana‘s first practice session after being appointed as Team India’s new captain.

Team India will clash with Zimbabwe in the three-match T20I series. The first match is set to be played on October 16 at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur.

In the video, Mandhana is seen showcasing her exceptional skills with the willow, interacting with players and coaches.

Taking charge to 𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙚𝙧𝙖 ✨🫡 🎥 Soak in Smriti Mandhana’s 1️⃣st day in training as #TeamIndia Captain 🇮🇳 #INDvZIM | @mandhana_smriti | @mflone_ https://t.co/EMLJrJmISS

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) October 13, 2026

Earlier, long-time serving skipper Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down from the position, following which Mandhana took over control of the “Women in Blue”.

The past few tournaments and matches have etched Mandhana’s name in history as she currently stands as the leading T20I run-scorer in women’s cricket and also the woman with the most international runs and centuries.

Smriti Mandhana’s T20I career statistics

In 179 T20Is, she has scored 4,867 runs at an average of 31.00 and a strike rate of over 127, with two centuries and 37 fifties. She has enjoyed a rich run in T20Is this year, with 765 runs in 22 matches and 21 innings at an average of 38.25 and a strike rate of 148.25, with a century and five fifties, including a best score of 124. 

Overall, in international cricket, she has made 11,066 runs across 308 appearances, with 18 centuries, joint-most by a batter alongside South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt.

Recently, she was named a celebrity advocate by UNICEF India. Mandhana will support UNICEF India’s efforts to empower adolescent girls, improve their health, and help them access chances to learn, play and lead.

“I am honoured to join UNICEF India. Playing cricket taught me that every dream begins with an opportunity. With hard work, and encouragement, that opportunity can turn into something extraordinary. Every child deserves the chance to dream big and reach their full potential,” she said.

(With Inputs from Agencies)

“}]]