Smriti Mandhana Shines at Naman Awards 2026 with Multiple Honors
Celebrating Excellence in Women's Cricket
On March 15, 2026, the Naman Awards held in New Delhi recognized outstanding achievements in cricket, with India's vice-captain and top-ranked ODI batter, Smriti Mandhana, winning the Best International Cricketer - Women award. Deepti Sharma was honored for claiming the most wickets in the past year, while Sree Charani received accolades for her impressive international debut.
This annual event highlights remarkable performances and contributions across various levels of cricket, including international, domestic, and age-group competitions.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) celebrated Mandhana's achievement, noting her impressive statistics: 1,800 runs in 36 matches, including seven centuries. This marks the fifth time she has received the Best International Cricketer - Women award.
Mandhana made her senior international debut in 2013 during a T20I against Bangladesh, followed by her ODI debut shortly after. She played her first Test match in 2014 against England, where she scored her first fifty.
Over her career, Mandhana has become one of the leading batters in women's cricket, being the first Indian woman to score centuries in all three formats. She has participated in 288 matches, accumulating 10,277 runs, which includes 17 centuries and 71 fifties.
Deepti Sharma was recognized for her exceptional performance as the highest wicket-taker in ODIs for the 2024-25 season. The BCCI highlighted her journey, noting her record as the youngest Indian to achieve a five-wicket haul in ODIs at just 18 years old.
Check out Deepti's achievement here
With 341 wickets in 266 matches, including five five-wicket hauls, Deepti has made a significant mark in the sport.
Sree Charani was awarded the Best International Debut - Women, showcasing her talent as a slow left-arm spinner. She has already made a notable impact in her early career, participating in 34 matches and taking 47 wickets, including a four-wicket haul.
See Sree Charani's debut recognition here