India opener Smriti Mandhana bags Women's Cricketer of The Year award for 2021

India opening batter Smriti Mandhana on Monday won the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award for the ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year for 2021. Despite India enduring a difficult 2021, Mandhana's stock continued to rise this year.

In the limited-overs series



against South Africa where India won just two of the eight matches at home, Mandhana played a major role in both of the wins. She made 80 not out as India chased down 158 in the second ODI that helped them level the series, and scored 48 not out in the win in the final T20I.