Indian women’s cricket vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has once again dismissed comparisons between her and former India captain Virat Kohli, urging fans and the media to avoid juxtaposing her achievements with those of the cricketing legend.
Since making her international debut, Mandhana has often been compared to Kohli due to her aggressive style of play and her jersey number 18, the same as Kohli’s. The parallels have grown stronger, especially since both cricketers represent Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their respective leagues. However, Mandhana believes these comparisons are misplaced.
“Virat Kohli is a great player. What he has achieved for Indian cricket is amazing. Don’t compare me with him just because I’m wearing a No. 18 jersey; I don’t like such comparisons,” Mandhana stated in a recent interview.
Mandhana’s rise in international cricket has been meteoric, similar to Kohli’s. Both players are often regarded as the best batters for their respective teams, consistently proving their mettle on the field. In 2024 alone, Mandhana has been in scintillating form, scoring back-to-back centuries against South Africa in ODIs and another hundred in a Test match against the same opposition. She continued her remarkable run in the recently concluded Women’s Asia Cup, further solidifying her status as one of the top batters in women’s cricket.
Despite these accomplishments, Mandhana remains humble and grounded, emphasizing that Kohli’s contributions to Indian cricket are on a different level. The 28-year-old also pointed out that wearing the same jersey number shouldn’t be a reason for comparisons, highlighting the uniqueness of each player’s journey and achievements.
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