The Women’s Premier League 2026 has finally ended after a thrilling finale with Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking their second trophy home. Once again, the star with the headline act was captain, Smriti Mandhana. She not only led RCB from the front but also crossed the 1,000 run mark in WPL history during the 2026 finale match against Delhi Capitals on February 5, 2026. Her impressive knock of 87 off 41 in a daunting run chase once again proved why she is the heartbeat of RCB’s batting unit. Amid the new achievement in her hat, let’s take a look at her journey from Sangli’s lane to two-time WPL champion and orange cap holder.
Smrit Mandhana dreamt of dominating the cricket at a world stage in Maharashtra’s Sangli
Long before Smriti Mandhana shone under the stadium lights, her cricket story began in the quiet town of Sangli in Maharashtra. She was born in Mumbai on July 18, 1996, and grew up in a household where cricket was a daily conversation. The star batter’s father, Shrinivas, and her brother, Shravan both used to play cricket at the district level. Their passion for the sport fueled Smriti’s interest in the game when she was 8. Although Smriti is a right-hander, she learnt to bat left-handed because her father admired the finesse of left-handed batters.
By
