For her outstanding performance in 2021, Smriti Mandhana was awarded the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy as the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year. This prestigious title was first ever won by the Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry.
Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy for the year 2021 has won by Smriti Mandhana for being the ICC’s Women’s Cricketer of the year 2021. The first player to win the highest individual distinction in the women’s overall category of the annual ICC awards is Australian allrounder, Ellyse Perry.
Following Perry, Smriti Mandhana has now secured this honor. Within India, Jhulan Goswami was the first to ever bring home an annual ICC award, and other international stars like Lizelle Lee (South Africa) and Gaby Lewis (Ireland) have also been recognized. While receiving the trophy, Mandhana shared how proud she was to be named the 2021 ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year.
She took a moment to credit her success to her family, friends, coaches, and teammates, as well as the fans who believed in her. Mandhana described the award as a significant acknowledgment from the world's leading cricket authority, especially given the unique nature of the past year. She believes this recognition will inspire her to further elevate her game for the benefit of the Indian national team.
Her sights are now firmly set on the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand, where she aims for victory through collective team effort. Mandhana's track record is impressive; back in 2018, she led the women's ODI run charts with 669 runs and a stellar average of 66.90. Additionally, she ranked as the third-highest run-getter in T20Is, accumulating 622 runs with a strike rate of 130.67.