India’s senior cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin hailed India’s opening batter Smriti Mandhana after she was named as the winner of Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of 2021. On Monday, Smriti Mandhana was named the Cricketer of the Year for the second time by the Women’s International Cricket Council for her stellar performance across all the formats in 2021, but no Indian made the men’s side.
A year to remember ?
Smriti Mandhana’s quality at the top of the order was on full display in 2021 ?
More on her exploits ? https://t.co/QI8Blxf0O5 pic.twitter.com/3jRjuzIxiT
— ICC (@ICC) January 24, 2022
Smriti has become the second player, after Australia’s all-rounder Ellyse Perry to win this award twice in the women’s category. Team India’s vice-captain, Smriti Mandhana, was the country’s highest scorer in the format in 2021 with 255 runs at an average of 31.87. In the nine games she played, she scored two fifties and got her team off to rapid starts regularly, with a strike rate of 131.44.
On the other hand, there was no Indian representation in ICC Men’s T20I Team of the Year 2021. Three Pakistanis including skipper Babar Azam, who has been named captain, featured in ICC Men’s T20I Team of the Year 2021. Apart from Babar Azam, opener Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi, were also named in the squad
Meanwhile, wishes poured in from all corners for the sensational Indian batter. From cricketers, experts to fans, everyone took to Twitter and came up with amazing congratulatory messages for Smriti.
Among many, India’s star cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin also took to Twitter and posted a special message for Smriti Mandhana, where he congratulated her. In his Tweet, Ashwin said that this achievement was Mandhana’s reward for her wonderful performances, and it is a big boost to the Indian Women’s cricket team. He wrote:
“Congratulations @mandhana_smriti ???. Great reward for some wonderful performances and such a big boost for the @BCCIWomen cricket. Onwards and upwards? #ICCAwards2021″
Here, check out the Tweet:
Congratulations @mandhana_smriti ???. Great reward for some wonderful performances and such a big boost for the @BCCIWomen cricket. Onwards and upwards? #ICCAwards2021
— Ashwin ?? (@ashwinravi99) January 24, 2022
India’s talented opener Mayank Agarwal also lauded Smriti Mandhana for her amazing achievement. Calling her a brilliant cricketer, Mayank wrote:
“Amazing achievement @mandhana_smriti. You are a brilliant cricketer and I wish you a lot of success for future.”
Here, check out the Tweet:
Amazing achievement @mandhana_smriti. You are a brilliant cricketer and I wish you a lot of success for future.
— Mayank Agarwal (@mayankcricket) January 24, 2022
