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India Women's National Cricket Team superstar Smriti Mandhana shared her own way of dealing with tough situations as a human being. Everyone faces certain conditions that cause breakdowns and emotional heartbreaks. Smriti is not an exceptional human being. It is the method of dealing with those moments that makes her standout than others.
Mandhana, the deputy to India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, is one of the best batters across the world. According to the rankings, she is the top-ranked batter in the world and the fifth-best batter in the Women's T20I.
I don’t like crying: Smriti Mandhana on her emotional side
Over the years, the 30-year-old witnessed a lot, from achievements on the cricket ground to lows in personal life. But none of the low points were able to defocus the batter.
"I could be quiet and just within myself. Rona dhona nahi hai mere ko (I don’t like crying). And you know what I don’t like—the biggest thing is that other people understanding that I’m sad is one big thing [but] I hate sympathy, any sort of sympathy. ‘Oh, you’re sad; oh, what happened?’ Like people will come and be like Oh, you got out? If you are sad about it, people will feel like you are sad about it and something big has happened, and then they will come and give sympathy," Mandhana said.
Smriti Mandhana explains her life rule
Speaking on Raj Shamani's podcast, Smriti Mandhana claimed that she is not among those who used to seek sympathy. She actually hates sympathy. And she explained why he don't want to grab attention from others.
"So my life rule is that I don’t want to be that person so that I don’t get sympathy, because I hate it. Don’t look at me like I am a bechari (‘oh, poor thing’); I am fine. I am strong, and it’s not just for the world," she added.
Get inspired by the game, not by the story: Smriti Mandhana, how she inspires herself
Because of this approach to healing his mind and emotions, Smriti Mandhana never opens up about her family matters or any other issues that are very personal to her. Even in interviews, she chose to skip the questions that are related to her family. Smriti Mandhana's life philosophy is very simple, based on only nine words— get inspired by the game, not by the story
"I just feel like I have lived my life a certain way, and I don’t think I am answerable around this sympathy kind of a thing. As you know, you just know—like, I don’t know, it is a very weird thing, but I can’t take it."
"That’s why I never—like, that’s why I never speak in interviews about family issues. I mean, I’m not that. I’m just like, look at me like a happy soul. Look at me like that—like, get inspired by the game, not by the story," Mandhana said on the podcast.
Mandhana is on the verge of claiming another trophy for the Indian cricket team tonight. India will play the final of the women's Asia Cup 2026 against Sri Lanka in Dubai.
