Smriti Mandhana crowned ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2024

After an electric race to the peak, it was Smriti Mandhana who won the all-coveted ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2024 award.

Mandhana, who captains RCB in the WPL, was in stunning touch throughout the year in the 50-over format, starting with consecutive centuries that propelled the Indian cricket team to a 3-0 series win against South Africa. Apart from her showdown against the Proteas, she also scored a phenomenal ton against New Zealand, helping India to bag the decider and eventually the series.

In 2024, Mandhana played 13 ODIs, blasting 747 runs, numbers that would motivate others significantly. The tally was significantly more than her counterparts in the race that saw Laura Wolvaardt, Tammy Beaumont and Hayley Matthews falling short.

Wolvaardt smashed 697 runs to finish second in the race to the ace while Tammy Beaumont could score 554 runs followed by Matthews with a total of 469 runs. Mandhana racked up the runs at an impressive average of 57.86 and at a strike rate of 95.15.

The RCB-W skipper scored four centuries in 2024, a new feat in the women’s game, also garnering a century of boundaries split as 95 fours and four sixes across the calendar year.