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

India’s opening batting maestro Smriti Mandhana has been crowned the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year for 2024 on Monday.

Mandhana, the vice-captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, has been rewarded for scoring 747 runs in 13 innings in 2024. 

She amassed the runs at an impressive average of 57.86 and at an impressive strike rate of 95.15, helping set an attacking tone for India’s top order.

Mandhana also scored four ODI centuries in 2024– a new record in the women’s game – and found the boundary more than a hundred times in the year, hitting 95 fours and six maximums across 2024.

“One of the factors that set the experienced India star apart during the year was how she managed to produce her best against high-calibre opposition, scoring big runs in difficult series,” ICC wrote on its website, reasoning Mandhana's candidature for the award. 

Mandhana scored two consecutive hundreds to inspire India to a 3-0 series win against South Africa in June. An outstanding century proved the match-defining contribution in a series decider against New Zealand in October. And she again showcased her ability to dominate the very best with a defiant century in Perth against Australia in a losing cause in December.

Her tally was the highest among all batters in women’s ODIs in the calendar year. Mandhana topped the chart ahead of Laura Wolvaardt (697), Tammy Beaumont (554) and Hayley Matthews (469).

Carrying her 2024, the southpaw made a blitzkrieg start to 2025. She smashed the fastest ODI century by an Indian women’s cricketer.

Earlier this month, Mandhana hit a 70-ball hundred against Ireland to better the previous record of Harmanpreet Kaur, who owned the previous record for smashing an 87-ball hundred.

Mandhana, the only Indian batter in the top 10, is currently ranked second in the ICC Women’s ODI rankings.

In the Ireland series, she slammed 135 in the third ODI and 41 and 73 in the first and second matches, respectively.