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Indian cricket star Smriti Mandhana etched her name in the record books during the Women’s One Day International (ODI) against South Africa by becoming the first Indian player to achieve back-to-back centuries in WODIs. Mandhana’s feat came amidst a stellar performance where she scored a magnificent 136 runs off 120 balls, setting the stage for India’s formidable total of 325/3.
Smriti Mandhana’s Bowling Action alike Virat Kohli
However, Mandhana’s day of accomplishments didn’t stop there. In a surprising twist, the talented left-hander also claimed her maiden ODI wicket by dismissing Sune Luus in the 15th over. Introduced into the bowling attack by captain Harmanpreet Kaur on a spin-friendly track, Mandhana displayed a deceptive wrong-footed action reminiscent of Virat Kohli. Her delivery, wide outside off, induced Luus into an ill-judged shot that resulted in a top edge easily caught by wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh, triggering jubilation at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The parallels between Smriti Mandhana’s Bowling Actions alike Virat Kohli’s were further underscored by shared experiences such as both players wearing the number 18 jersey and their Bangalore fan base. Notably, Kohli had taken his last international wicket on a similar wide delivery, albeit against a different opponent, during the 2023 World Cup.
Smriti Mandhana’s Bowling Action and Mandhana’s dual achievement of scoring consecutive centuries and picking a wicket in the same match underscores her all-round prowess and ability to excel under pressure. Her innings not only equaled Mithali Raj’s record of seven WODI centuries for India but also stood as her highest score in ODI cricket, highlighting her adaptability and consistency across different conditions.
