Smriti Mandhana starred in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, scoring 74 off 47 vs the Netherlands. Her four consecutive boundaries highlighted a 115-run opening stand with Shafali Verma, powering India to 209/5. Fans praised her “pure class” and consistency.
Team India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana delivered her best performance in the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 during the Group A match against debutants Netherlands at Headingly in Leeds on Wednesday, June 17.
After being put to bat first by the Netherlands captain Babette de Leede, Team India posted a solid total of 209/5 in 20 overs. Smriti Mandhana led the batting with a knock of 74 off 47 balls while forming an opening 115-run partnership with Shafali Verma, who played an innings of 55 off 38 balls, setting the stage for the rest of the lineup to build on their explosive start.
Richa Ghosh (20* off 8), Jemimah Rodrigues (19 off 13), and Deepti Sharma (10 off 2) chipped in with valuable contributions to ensure that Indian bowlers have a massive total to defend against first-time participants, the Netherlands, who have made their debut in the tournament against Bangladesh.
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Smriti Mandhana’s Fluent Knock Steals Spotlight
Carrying on her momentum from Team India’s opening match against Pakistan, where she scored 68 off 44 balls, Smriti Mandhana continued her dominant form against the Netherlands. The vice-captain has showcased her composure and class at the crease, turning the innings into a spectacular fireworks show with every boundary.
Opening India’s batting with Shafali Varma, Mandhana had a moderate start to her innings, as she scored 35 off 30 balls at a strike rate of 116.67. Since Shafali was already playing aggressively at the other end, Mandhana took a measured approach to settle in, but she soon shifted gears with remarkable ease.
Once she found her rhythm, Smriti Mandhana went aggressively, as she scored 39 runs off just 17 balls at a strike rate of 229.41. Mandhana accelerated her innings in the 15th over when she smashed Silver Siegers for four consecutive boundaries, a sequence that shifted the momentum entirely in India's favour and allowed them to build a commanding total.
Smriti Mandhana’s stay at the crease was posing a serious threat to the Netherlands’ bowling attack, as she dictated terms with a blend of technical precision and aggressive hitting. After Shafali Varma’s dismissal, the onus was on the vice-captain to anchor the innings and maintain the scoring rate, a challenge she met with composure before finding her rhythm to accelerate toward a match-defining total.
However, Caroline de Lange eventually ended Mandhana’s innings when she failed to clear Iris Zwilling at extra cover. Despite her departure, the foundation she laid helped India post their highest-ever total in a Women's T20 World Cup match.
Social Media Erupts as Mandhana Displays ‘Pure Class’
Smriti Mandhana’s second consecutive fifty of the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup, as well as her fluent performance, have sparked a wave of reactions on social media, especially X (formerly Twitter), with fans and cricket enthusiasts alike flooding the platform with praise.
Taking to their X handles, fans and cricket enthusiasts flooded social media with admiration for Smriti Mandhana’s fluent 74, calling it a ‘queen’ performance and a ‘pure class’ masterclass. Many praised her consistency and elegant strokeplay, with reactions like “class is permanent” and “pure elegance and a treat to watch.”
Others hailed her impact at the top of the order, calling her ‘Queen of Indian Cricket’ and praising how she set the tone for India’s dominant total with effortless timing, clean strokeplay, and consistent match-winning performances in the tournament.
In two matches, Smriti Mandhana has aggregated 142 runs, including two fifties, at an average of 71.00 and an impressive strike rate of 156.04.
Meanwhile, Team India defeated the Netherlands by 95 runs to secure back-to-back victories and moved to the top of the points table with four points and a net run rate (NRR) of +3.975.
