India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has been shortlisted for the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for October following a record-breaking campaign that powered India to its maiden Women’s ODI World Cup title. The elegant left-hander will compete with South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt and Australia all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner for the honour.
Mandhana’s nomination crowns a remarkable World Cup in which she emerged as India’s batting mainstay. Across nine matches, she amassed 434 runs at an average of 54.25 and a strike rate of 99.08 — finishing as India’s top scorer and the tournament’s second-highest overall. Her tally surpassed Mithali Raj’s 409 runs in 2017, setting a new benchmark for the most runs by an Indian in a single Women’s World Cup.
After a cautious start to the tournament, Mandhana found her rhythm in emphatic style. Consecutive scores of 80 and 88 against Australia and England revived India’s campaign during the group stage. Her finest moment came in the must-win clash against New Zealand, where she struck a fluent century and stitched a record 212-run opening partnership with Pratika Rawal — the highest for India in World Cup history.
In the final against South Africa, Mandhana once again rose to the occasion, anchoring a crucial 104-run opening stand with Shafali Verma to set the tone for India’s title-clinching win. Her consistency, composure, and ability to perform under pressure defined India’s historic run through the tournament.
The ICC panel also recognised the efforts of Wolvaardt and Gardner. South Africa’s Wolvaardt led her side to its first-ever Women’s ODI World Cup final, topping the charts with a staggering 571 runs, including two centuries — the highest aggregate ever in a single edition. Gardner, on the other hand, showcased her all-round brilliance for Australia, scoring 328 runs and taking seven wickets to guide her team to the semifinals.
Mandhana’s nomination continues a prolific year for the 28-year-old opener, who has already registered multiple half-centuries across formats and cemented her reputation as one of the world’s most complete batters. Should she win, it would be her second ICC monthly honour after previously claiming the award in September 2022.
For Indian cricket, her recognition underscores not only Mandhana’s individual excellence but also the growing global stature of the women’s team following its historic World Cup triumph.
