Sachin Tendulkar Wishes Smriti Mandhana on Her 22nd Birthday. And Wants Her to Do This

Indian women’s cricket team opener Smriti Mandhana on Wednesday turned 22. Mandhana was born in Mumbai on 18 July 1996. Mandhana, who bats left hand, is often touted as ‘Lady Shikhar Dhawan’. She happens to be the vital cog in the Indian batting unit. Mandhana in 2016 was the only Indian player to be named in the ICC Women’s Team of the Year 2016.

She has also won BCCI's MA Chidambaram Trophy for best woman cricketer for the year 2013-14. As the female cricketer turned 22, none other than Sachin Tendulkar took to Twitter to wish her. Master Blaster apart from the birthday wish recommended Mandhana to “keep smiling.” Neeraj Chopra Clinches Gold at Sotteville Athletics Meet, Virender Sehwag Congratulates the Javelin Thrower.

“Many, many happy returns of the day, @mandhana_smriti. Keep smiling!” wrote Tendulkar on his Twitter account. The 22-year-old cricketer was quick to respond to Tendulkar’s tweet. “Thank you so much @sachin_rt Sir,” she replied.

Mandhana was part of the Indian women’s team that made it to the finals of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2017. The left-hander batter started her World Cup campaign on a positive note scoring 90 in the opening game against England Women, apparently winning the Player of the Match award. She then followed it with unbeaten 106 In India’s second game against Windies women. After Harmanpreet Kaur, Mandhana was the second Indian to earn a Women’s Big Bash League contract.

The 22-year-old has represented India in 41 ODIs and 42 T20Is. She has so far scored 1464 runs in ODIs and has three centuries and 11 half-centuries against her name. In T20Is, Mandhana has scored 857 runs and has slammed five half-centuries. She has also represented India in a couple of Tests.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 18, 2018 02:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).