Smriti Mandhana dismissed any comparisons between herself and Virat Kohli, emphasizing that they are distinct players. Speaking after her team’s WPL victory, she clarified her stance despite wearing the same jersey number as Kohli.
In a recent interview, Smriti Mandhana was questioned about similarities with Virat Kohli, given their roles as top-order batters for RCB and the Indian team. Mandhana, the newly crowned RCB captain, won her first Premier League trophy, contrasting Kohli’s winless streak since 2008.
Smriti Mandhana’s Graceful Reply To Comparisons With Virat Kohli Has Won Many Hearts
Smriti Mandhana replied to the reporter’s question by saying that winning the WPL title before Virat Kohli won the IPL doesn’t lessen his achievements. She mentioned that comparing herself to Kohli isn’t right as their careers have taken different paths.
“Title is one thing, but what the other No. 18 has acheived for India is a very big thing. So, I don’t think that comparison is right in terms of where my career is and what he has already achieved. So I don’t like comparisons because what he has achieved in his career has been really great.”
She added: “He has been a really inspirational person. The title doesn’t define a lot of things. And we all respect him, and I feel like the respect in Indian cricket has to be there, right up there for Virat. So there is nothing different for me as well,”
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Further, Mandhana clarified that the similarity in jersey numbers with Kohli (both wearing 18) is coincidental, as her date of birth is the 18th. She emphasized that jersey number choice is personal. While Kohli inspires many aspects of life, she noted their cricket styles differ. She said:
“So, I would not really term it of any 18-18, really nothing. Its an inspiration; the jersey number is just a personal choice. It doesn’t define. My birthdate is 18 and that’s why I have 18 on my back. it doesn’t really define how he plays his cricket or how I play cricket. He has been an inspiration for us in a lot of aspects, so I would really say that title should not define anything,”
