RCB Podcast: Bold and Beyond – Smriti Mandhana reveals how the 2017 World Cup changed women's cricket in India

The 2017 World Cup was a major turning point for the Indian women after they made the finals of the tournament. Despite slipping up against England in the summit clash, yet, the brand of cricket played by Team India was simply marvellous. Mandhana was also a part of the team and as per the opener, what she saw after returning to the airport is what changed the entire perspective of the sport.

Talking on the first episode of RCB Podcast – Bold and Beyond, Mandhana said, “The 2017 World Cup when we came back and we saw the reception at the airport, I mean to be fair as a women cricketer, I never thought that this is going to happen. It happened after we lost the final. Not that we won the World Cup final. Generally it happens after you win the World Cup final and people are coming to receive you.”

She further said, “People actually came to receive us after losing the final which I think was a huge moment. After that the first time it happened that you went to a mall and people came up to you. At that time, they did not recollect the name, they would ask if I play for the Indian women’s team. I just started feeling happy. I remember that Harman just scored 171 and many people would approach me and ask if I was Harmanpreet Kaur? I would have to refuse them. I believe it was the pony tail which was similar but I think 2017 in Indian cricket was one of the years which would be remembered for one massive transition.”

Mandhana concluded by stating, “People who played before also did amazingly well to get us till there but I think the 2017 World Cup kind of changed a lot of things for Indian women's cricket.”