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Smriti Mandhana has once again proved why she is one of the biggest stars in women's cricket. With a brilliant knock against Pakistan in India's opening match of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, the stylish left-hander not only helped her team but also achieved a special milestone.
After the match, former India captain Anjum Chopra made it clear that India's hopes of lifting the T20 World Cup will depend heavily on Mandhana's form. She also noted that a very few Indian batters have achieved what Smriti has already accomplished in international cricket. Smriti Mandhana already featured alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on elite list.
Anjum Chopra makes big statement on Smriti Mandhana after her heroics against Pakistan in ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026
India began their ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against Pakistan at Edgbaston in Birmingham on June 14. After winning the toss, the India women’s national cricket team decided to bat first, but they had a poor start against the Pakistan women’s national cricket team.
That is when Smriti Mandhana took charge and played with complete control, mixing elegant shots with attacking strokeplay. Her superb knock of 68 runs from just 44 balls gave India the perfect platform and helped the team recover after the early setback.
The innings also brought a major personal milestone for the left-handed opener. With the fifth fifty-plus score in a T20 World Cup, Mandhana joined an elite list alongside Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur for the most 50-plus scores by an Indian player in the tournament's history.
Anjum Chopra hails Smriti Mandhana as India's big match winner
Her performance once again reminded everyone why she has remained one of India's most dependable batters across formats over the years. And Anjum Chopra praised Mandhana's impact and consistency, saying she has built an outstanding career through her performances.
Anjum also pointed to Mandhana's multiple ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year awards as proof of her excellence and said that such achievements come only through sustained success at the highest level. However, the former captain refused to label Mandhana's achievements.
Anjum Chopra said in the PTI video, “She is a match winner for India. She has earned ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year awards more than once, and I think she has already done that twice. So, she is already an accomplished batter. I don't see a reason that I need to bracket it or brand it as the best T20 or Test batter or one-day batter. Obviously, they play so much of T20. So, I will not classify that as the best player ever to play for India or anything. She is very good. That is why she is scoring runs and that is why she is the ICC Cricketer of the Year more than once.”
Anjum Chopra pins India's World Cup hopes on Smriti Mandhana's form
With the IC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 still in its early stages, Chopra said that if Mandhana continues this kind of form, the team's chances of lifting the trophy could become much stronger. Even Harmanpreet Kaur earned glowing praise from cricket legend.
Chopra added, “Look, she is a star player. She is a stylish player, and she continues to score runs and get India out of the win. I mean, that's the job of a player who is playing for the Indian side, and it's the same job that Smriti does, that Harman does, that Deepti is doing, that Richa is doing, and that anybody and everybody on the team is doing. That is their job to do.”
