Some people would say that I will become dark in the sun, and who will marry me if I played: Smriti Mandhana

Q.  You have been in supreme form this season, scoring 10 half-centuries and a century in 2018...

Smriti: It feels good. After the World Cup, I was aiming for consistency. After two good innings (90 vs England, 106* vs West Indies), there was a run of bad patch during the World Cup. The focus was to get back into form. I was getting out in the 50s. South Africa was good, I ended up playing till the 40th over (in first two ODIs — 84 & 135). It is not just about getting 50s but contributing in winning matches for India. Everyone wants to win as team, we also wanted to win. If I contribute to winning, it is better for the team.

Q.  You were getting the starts but unable to convert them into big scores...

Smriti: In ODIs, I didn't have this problem earlier. It was in the last few games (before England ODI series) that I have been getting out after getting set. It's more mental — lapse in concentration. It also happens when you have all the shots in the book. You feel like hitting all the balls. I think I should be selective about which shots I should be hitting after getting set or even before getting set.

Q. How much do you sit down and think about the game?

Smriti: Half-an-hour. That's it. It is more than enough. Because if you keep thinking about your batting and all that stuff, then you complicate it a lot. I have done that mistake earlier, complicating my batting by thinking about it a lot. I am in a frame where I want to enjoy cricket. Of course, I think about my game: how I got out, what I could have done better. But that I think for half-an-hour and that's enough. Cricket is played more on the ground. In hotel rooms if you think, then you spoil your game. It's more important to relax outside the ground.

Q. At 21, you have become one of the senior and responsible players of the team. Does it put you under pressure?

Smriti: I don't think so. Responsibility makes a player better. I was made the captain of Maharashtra senior team when I was 16 or 17. I know how to take the team forward. I had been through the responsibilities. Even for this Indian team also, when I played my first match, I had that in mind that you have the responsibility. If you are wearing that blue jersey, each of those 15 members has the responsibility. Not just me.

Q. How much have things changed for you before and after the 2017 World Cup?

Smriti: For me individually, I learnt a lot after my injury more than the World Cup. I got injured in January (knee injury), six months before the World Cup. I enjoy my cricket much more after the injury than before it. Whenever I was in a bad patch, I would say this is the worst phase of my life. But when I was injured, I was not able to walk and that made me realise there are much more things to life than just cricket. So, you have to take everything positively and just enjoy. When I got injured, I thought, 'why did I start playing cricket?' It was to enjoy. Playing it professionally, you somewhere stop (enjoying). After the injury, I have been enjoying. I even enjoyed the phase. I was positive and the team was also doing well. When the team is doing well, individual performances don't count. Everybody was enjoying as people were watching us play.

Q. During your career-threatening injury, did you feel like quitting the game?

Smriti: I was lucky that I had the World Cup to keep me motivated. World Cup is the biggest thing, I had never played a 50-over World Cup earlier. I had been preparing for the World Cup for the last three years. Got injured five months before it. And the doctor didn't think I would be able to make it. But I think our physio, Tracy (Fernandes) ma'am, really helped me get out of that phase. She said I didn't need to worry and that she will make me fit. In NCA (National Cricket Academy) also there was a very positive atmosphere. The first one-and-half-month was hard. There was nothing to do. As a cricketer you just can't sit at one place and do nothing. I don't like depending on someone and it was the most difficult phase. I was lucky that my mom and brother came to stay with me in Bengaluru in NCA and entertained me.

Q. Do you set targets or goals for yourself?

Smriti: The goal would be winning World Cup for India. Not many individual goals. I don't like sharing them. They are not big goals. I don't set goals and work accordingly. If you set a goal, it doesn't happen. You just have to follow the process and don't complicate it. If goals would be achieved so easily then people would have done it every now and then. It doesn't happen like that. My only goal is to play full 50 overs if I am set. The goal keeps changing. Be consistent: that is what my goal is. It is not materialistic like 100s or 1000 runs in a year or anything like that. For me, it's simple things of cricket. Win the match for India. That is what all my goals are.

Q. What do you do on your off days?

Smriti: Play stations is one thing which we keep playing. From women's team right now, only three or four of play it. We play FIFA.

Q. Even MS Dhoni is a FIFA fan on PS. Would you like to challenge him?

Smriti: I just started playing a year back so. I haven't reached that level. Two or three years I definitely would like to think about it (competing with Dhoni). I enjoy music and movies as well. Movies make me very happy, Bollywood especially. My favourite movie is 3 Idiots and the recent favourite is Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety. I loved that movie as it relatable. It's about your best friend and anyone who has a best friend would relate to it. You are possessive about your best friend and he or she starts getting importance from someone else. It's the same.

Q. Who is the actual Smriti Mandhana?

Smriti: I am a very simple girl. I am the youngest at home. Heart of my family. Whenever I go home, it's just about me speaking. In the team I am silent and I don't speak much. Maybe in the last one or two years, I have spoken more than I used to earlier. I just enjoy my life. Whatever comes I take it positively. Stay happy and be positive. Everything else will follow. I keep telling myself that if I want to stay happy, I should enjoy everything: the gym, go out there in the field and bat. Enjoy each and every phase and be happy.

Q. Which cricketer does Smriti idolise?

Smriti: My brother used to play cricket. I never used to watch cricket but play when I was just 6-7. I took up the game watching my brother. I don't think you will see any difference because I bat a lot like my brother. But later on when I started watching, I loved Matthew Hayden with the way he used to dominate the opposition. Then (Kumar) Sangakkara, I liked his classical shots. Because they were lefties, I used to follow them.

Q. Do you reflect your journey from Sangli to playing for India?

Smriti: Some days you reflect, especially when you are in night flights. I start thinking of all those stuff. I become very philosophical, but generally I am not like that. Sometimes I do think from where I started. From playing cricket after watching my brother bat, following it and now representing India. During the injury phase, a moment came where I thought why I started playing cricket. And it was all because I enjoyed playing it. Then I became professional. When you become pro, the enjoyment part goes away as you think too much. Enjoying life is important. You have selected this life and be happy in it.

Q. How do you react to the stardom and fans following you all over?

Smriti: I think I am very sweet to the fans. (If I am) You should ask them. Wherever on ground, people recognise us, they follow us. Just a few days back, I came out of the bus and a small girl came and touched my feet, that was very awkward. During the World Cup, I just hugged a fan and she started crying. I was wondering why she cried. It feels good that people are watching and want photos with you.

Q. You started playing the game for fun and enjoyment. Would you say you were lucky to play for India?

Smriti: Not lucky. Everyone works hard. I too have worked hard to be where I am today. Lucky will not be the right word. I am fortunate enough to play for India. Not lucky.

Q. What other things did you do apart from cricket?

Smriti: I love cooking. I also took cooking classes in Class V and VI. I wanted to do something in hotel management. I watched a lot of Master Chef. I had a dream to open hotels and restaurants. The dream is still on once cricket is done.

Q. How were you in studies?

Smriti: Never studied that much. But I would end up scoring 80-85 percentage. I played cricket from when I was in Class VI. I would not attend school for three-four months. I would study ten days before exams. I would read something and pick it up. That was before Class X. My mom and dad were totally into cricket. Even if I would have studied for five months, I would get 80 (percentage) only. I could not study for more than three-four hours.

Q. How would you like to be remembered as?

Smriti: Simple and humble girl. Cricket is temporary. As a cricketer, I will be remembered for one or two years, as someone who is better than me will come. I want to be remembered as a simple and humble girl.

Q. How much did you enjoy the Big Bash League, since you were all alone there?

Smriti: Earlier, I used to think I would enjoy staying alone. Even in India when I used to stay alone, I would enjoy. I would tell my mother that I don't need anyone. I can stay and enjoy alone. After 2-3 days (in Australia), I got half mad. Then I started realising that it is difficult. I started calling people. It's hard to be alone. All my friends were shocked, that why is Smriti calling so much? That made me realise the value of individuals in life.

Q. What has been your parents' role in making you the cricketer you are right now?

Smriti: Huge. Especially mom and dad. We are Marwaris. A girl from Marwari community playing cricket is a big thing. Mom and dad wanted me to play some sport. Any sport. My mom used to like individual sport more than team sports. So, she wanted me to play tennis. Later she realised that I am mad after cricket. Then she said, 'OK let her play cricket'. Dad would take me to cricket grounds. Because of them, I am playing. If they would have taken the 'ladki ko nahi khilate (women shouldn't be allowed to play)' comments from people seriously, then I would not have played cricket. I would've sat at home and done some cooking classes. My mom and dad have faced objections from the society, but they did not let it come to me. They filtered all that. They said, 'tu tera cricket khel, baaki hum sambhaal lenge (you play your cricket, we will take care of the rest)'. Don't know what was all that.

Some people would say that I would become dark in the sun, and who will marry me if I played cricket. I never reacted. My mom would tell me, 'let them say, but when you will play for India the same people will admire you'. Now they recognise me and look up to me. I feel good.

Q. You have played only two Tests in your five-year international career. Do you miss playing Test?

Smriti: I have played two Tests and enjoyed a lot. It is fun playing Tests, being in whites, short leg and silly point. I really enjoyed batting in those conditions. Even being at the slips and short legs. That is something we miss. That is not in our hands. As a spectator, I like watching more Tests than T20s and ODIs. I like watching the Ashes and see India play Tests. I don't really enjoy watching the limited-overs.

QUICK FIVE WITH SMRITI

Favourite cricketer?

Virat Kohli, for his consistency

Favourite car?

Audi A8. I like sports car. I love driving. Whenever I go back to Sangli, I drive.

Favourite actor?

Hrithik Roshan, childhood crush. Karthik Aryan now.

Favourite pastime?

Playstation, movies and music

Favourite dish?

Bhel from Sangli

KNOW SMRITI

Full name: Smriti Shriniwas Mandhana

Born: July 18, 1996 in Mumbai

Played for: India Green, India

Batting style: Left-hand

Bowling style: Right-arm off-break

SMRITI IN NUMBERS

Formats Mat Runs HS Ave 100s 50s

Tests 2 81 51 27.00 0 1
ODIs 41 1464 135 37.33 3 11
T20Is 36 767 76 24.74 9 5

In 2018 so far (ODIs)

84, 135, 0, 12, 67, 52, 86, 52, 53*

In 2018 so far (T20Is)

28, 57, 37, DNB, 13, 67, 76, 3, 62*

N ZONE

10
No. of half-centuries Smriti Mandhana has scored in 2018 so far across all formats, besides 1 century