On the cricket field, Smriti Mandhana is a name that deserves respect in its true sense. As vice-captain of the Indian national team, her big hitting and a long list of records command her respect within the sport.
While she is most widely known for her fierce competitiveness whilst donning the jersey of India, there is another aspect of her life that is making waves with the general public: her fashion-centric sensibility.
Away from the preoccupations of world cricket, Mandhana has steadily become a fashion influencer, demonstrating that sports agility and intending fashionable undertones can coexist.
Of her journey thus far, we can see a slow metamorphosis from a highly dedicated player to a fashion influencer – and one that could be identifying the way forward for what it means to be a sportswoman in 2023.
From the Cricket Pitch to the Runway
Smriti Mandhana, born in Mumbai, and now raised in Sangli (Maharashtra), was groomed in life by cricket. Through her father and brother, who played at a district level, she was named to the U15 side for Maharashtra at just nine years old.
Her very early focus was on the cricket itself, leading to an eclectic international career where she became the first Indian woman to score a century across all formats and received a few ICC awards, not forgetting the many plays she was recognisable for within the fan base. It seemed, for several years, fans recognised Mandhana primarily for her performance on the field, a picture of focus and determination.
In recent years, however, female athletes have been gaining recognition for more than their sporting prowess. They are now defined by their own personalities, and a large part of their personal identities is ascribed to the sportswear they sport, and Smriti Mandhana is a strong example in this area.
Smriti has a demonstrated ability for easily moving through her signature on-field kit to effortlessly chic off-duty looks, winning followers for her fashion as much as for her cover drives.
The Characteristics of Her Style
Smriti Mandhana has a distinct sense of fashion and style, it could best be characterized as versatile and easy elegance.
She has a distinct ability to look put together without looking like she deliberately tried. Her style is less about wearing what is trending at the moment, and more about what she chooses to wear and what she is comfortable in, which all resonate with her confident and graceful demeanor.
She easily flows between looks, much like she can expertly adjust her game to face off against different bowling styles.
Her closet is made up of a few essential elements that she mixes and matches for varying styles.
Casual Comfort: Mandhana’s casual wear is relaxed and comfortable. In her day to day life, she can be found in casual jeans, with a t-shirt making it easy to see that a simple outfit can be stylish. Mandhana has a unique way of rocking denim and usually wears it as a base in her outfits.
Power Dressing: Mandhana wears sharp neat pieces to present her more formal side. She wears matching pants and blazers with confidence. This “boss wear” and “boss mentality” shows the leadership and strength she displays on the cricket field.
Effortless Luxury: Away from casual wear and power suits, she wears even more glamorous pieces. These include an elegant black dress with classic designs, and a casual floral shirt.
Mandhana understands how to dress for the occasion. Also, she usually finishes her outfits with straightforward, tasteful jewelry.
An Emerging Influencer
Mandhana’s style remains memorable. Many of her fans see her as a fashion influential. Even if followers use an app like Cricmatch365 to get a live score and statistics for her players, they are inevitably looking at her social media to see what she wears off the field.
She is both a top-level athlete and style setter, emerging as a societal role model and shifting perceptions. Fans who are using the app to assess her bat strike technique have anecdotes and lessons in fashion technique to add to their notes.
Her style is an extension of her personality: deliberate, confident and sharp. She can wear casual jeans and a tee, and the next day an executive business suit. She operates well between looks, evidenced by her fashion chameleonic ability. She demonstrated that being a strong athlete does not mean there is no room for multiple signature looks.
The story of Smriti Mandhana is not just about cricket and clothing. It is about a contemporary athlete who is untroubled by her identity, whether it is scoring a century for her country or dressing for a day out.
She is a role model. She shows strength and style are not mutually exclusive. While she is continuing to dominate the cricket field, she is also set to take on more opportunities in the fashion space, ensuring she will be recognized for both her cricketing excellence and fashion sense.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What does Smriti Mandhana’s personal style reflect?
Smriti Mandhana’s personal style showcases versatility, effortless elegance, and comfort. She can transition from wardrobe staples such as jeans and t-shirts to powerful and sharp pantsuits, to glam dresses, suggesting she can adapt fashion to any occasion.
2. How did Smriti Mandhana move from being simply a cricketer to a fashion influencer?
Although she is well recognized for her accomplishments on the field, Smriti Mandhana began to get attention for her chic and graceful off-duty style. As female athletes became more visible regarding their personalities away from sport, any confident and versatile fashion choices she made on social media and events began to shape the way she was perceived by many of her fans.
3. What are some of her signature looks?
Smriti Mandhana usually sticks with a few different looks – relaxed denim with basic t-shirts for a casual, everyday look, tailored “power pantsuits” and blazers for a confident and professional feel, and either elegant dresses or floral shirts for more sophisticated or glamorous events.
4. Why has her sense of style resonated so much with her fans?
She resonates with her followers because her style feels attainable and genuine. She demonstrates that it is possible to be a highly, successful athlete while also representing an aspect of femininity and elegance. She has followers and fans because they also follow her cricket statistics on platforms such as Cricmatch, but her ability to show that you can be relatable in the fashion space as a role model stands out to them.