Smriti Mandhana has been named the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2024, marking her second time winning this prestigious award. Mandhana joins New Zealand’s Suzie Bates in achieving this feat multiple times, as she first won the title in 2018. Bates received the honor in 2013 and 2016.
Mandhana had a stellar year, amassing 747 runs in 13 matches at an impressive average of 57.46, which included four centuries and three fifties. She became the first batter in women’s ODIs to score four hundreds in a calendar year, with her latest century coming in December 2024 at Perth. Additionally, Mandhana made a contribution with the ball, taking one wicket in three matches.
Her remarkable year began with a modest start against Australia in January, but by June, she found her form during the home series against South Africa, scoring back-to-back centuries in Bengaluru. Mandhana capped off 2024 with an outstanding 105-run knock against Australia at WACA in December, following a brilliant century in Ahmedabad against New Zealand in October.
Mandhana beat tough competition, including Laura Wolvaardt, Chamari Athapaththu, and Annabel Sutherland. Wolvaardt had an impressive 2024, scoring 697 runs in 12 ODIs, while Athapaththu made 458 runs in nine matches for Sri Lanka.
Along with this accolade, Mandhana and Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma earned spots in the ICC Women’s ODI and T20I Teams of the Year 2024, further solidifying their dominance in world cricket.
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