Smriti Mandhana reveals 'favorite' Virat Kohli’s game-changing advice that transformed her

Indian women’s cricket team star Smriti Mandhana has shared some insights about her very crucial chat with the batting megastar Virat Kohli on the expectations and mindset about the game. Her revelations came ahead of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024, which is set to kick off on October 3 in the UAE.

All eyes will be on Mandhana, as India’s dynamic batter is gearing up to lead her team with unmatched flair and explosive batting in the upcoming Women's T20 World Cup 2024.

Virat Kohli is my favorite: Smriti Mandhana

Mandhana, renowned for her stunning stroke play and remarkable consistency, is not just a key player but a backbone of the Indian women’s cricket team. Her ability to both anchor innings and accelerate play has made her a formidable force in the game.

In a recent revelation, Mandhana shared her admiration for the legendary batter Kohli. In a video posted by Women's T20 World Cup broadcaster Star Sports on X, she openly expressed her admiration for the dashing right-hander, calling him her favorite cricketer.

Mandhana also revealed how meeting Kohli influenced her game. She shared how she once sought Kohli’s advice on tackling issues with her batting grip, as well as his strategies for handling immense expectations. Kohli’s response, focusing on delivering what the team needs rather than dwelling on expectations, was really helpful for the India Women star.

Smriti Mandhana stated: “Virat Kohli is my favorite. I did ask him a lot of things about batting. I really wanted to know what his mindset is, and I have a problem with my grip keeping on changing a bit, like after every tour, so I asked him about it. And about the mindset as well. We all ask that.”

Smriti Mandhana reveals how Virat Kohli’s advice shaped her mindset

She also shared how she discovered that having a stronger mental approach was key to how Kohli managed expectations over the years. Furthermore, Smriti Mandhana acknowledged that she shares a similar mindset and mentioned that hearing Virat Kohli's insights has helped her reach a better mental space.

Smriti Mandhana signed off by saying, “How do you carry all these expectations because he has so many expectations, and he just said that I don't look at him as having expectations. I just do what my team wants, so that was something we have somewhere in me, but it never comes out. It never comes out in our performances. But after hearing it from him, I thought I was in a better mindset.”

Notably, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian women’s cricket team will kick off their Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against New Zealand on October 4 in Dubai. India is placed in Group A along with Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.