Smriti Mandhana’s dream of winning the World Cup came true on November 2, 2025, when India sealed their maiden title by defeating South Africa in Navi Mumbai. To celebrate her success, RevSportz caught up with her childhood coach and current Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) women’s team scout, Anant Tambavekar.
In this exclusive chat, he opened up on his journey with Smriti, her leadership qualities, the bond she shares with Pratika Rawal, and RCB’s plans ahead of WPL 2026.
Smriti scored 434 runs, highest ever by an Indian in a World Cup. What were your first thoughts when Team India became World Champions?
I would say personal milestones are not important; winning the trophy for India is what truly matters. Watching the girls lift the World Cup made me the happiest person in the world.
Could you share a bit about your journey with Smriti? How did it all begin?
Before I met Smriti, I was already working with her brother Shravan (Mandhana), who was part of the Under-14 district team for Sangli. One day, Smriti’s father told me he had a daughter who also played cricket and asked me to take a look.
Honestly, at that time, I did not know much about women’s cricket. But when Smriti started timing the ball, I immediately felt something special. Cricket runs in her blood. Her father played, and her brother was already training with me.
Back then, there were hardly two or three state-level matches for women. Only players like Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj were well-known to me. I was still balancing my own playing career, but whenever Smriti got time, she would come and train.
After the 2017 World Cup, everything changed. We started working extremely hard, six to seven hours a day, sometimes eating lunch on the ground itself. Whenever she wanted to work on her skills, she would message me to come to Sangli. That is how our journey grew stronger.
The start of the World Cup was not ideal for her. Despite good form before the tournament, she could not convert her starts early on. What went wrong?
Nothing, really. She was among the runs before the World Cup and had scored that massive century (125 off 63) against Australia in Delhi while chasing 400-plus (413). It is all part of the game. Every match teaches you something new.
I always tell her just to express herself. Whether you get out or not does not matter as long as you give your 100%. Like Virat Kohli, she has set very high standards for herself, so even when she scores 30s or 40s, people feel she has not scored enough.
Smriti and Pratika Rawal’s opening partnership stood out. How do you see that pair?
They have been exceptional. Pratika often plays the second fiddle while Smriti attacks, and that balance sets the tone of the innings. Their understanding helps the team post or chase strong totals. The opening partnership is crucial, and they have done it beautifully so far.
For More Exciting Articles: Follow RevSportz
You have known her for years — how do you assess Smriti’s leadership qualities?
She makes my job easier! Her leadership shows how much she values team growth. Seniors like Smriti and Harmanpreet [Kaur] have a deep understanding. They help both the playing XI players and those outside it. That support system helps the coach, too. Their goal is simple and that is to win games for India.
Against England, after Smriti’s wicket, we crumbled and lost. Smriti took the blame on herself. What was your reaction?
Sometimes, something bad has to happen to remind you what needs fixing. She admitted her mistake in the press conference, and that honesty shows maturity.
While watching the match, after her shot, I was like, oh, this should not have happened. But it happens. The only thing you can do is to accept it, move on, and do not repeat it. That is the only way forward.
She scored a century against New Zealand, but missed out in the semis and final. Fans often say Smriti feels the pressure in knockouts. Has she ever talked to you about handling that?
She is very mature now. There was a time she had a rough patch and came to Sangli to practice. Nothing was connecting as cover drives were going to midwicket, on-drives to cover. That day, she broke down and said, “I don’t know what’s happening.”
Sometimes, it is not technical, it is mental. When you think too much, the pressure builds. I told her to express herself; mistakes will happen. Critics will come no matter what. It is part of being a sportsperson.
As RCB’s scout, how do you see the next WPL season shaping up after a tough campaign last time?
Every season is different. With the mega auction coming up, every franchise is working hard. We are looking to build a strong team again. Hopefully, next year we can proudly say again, “Ee Saala Cup Namdu!”
RCB retained Shreyanka Patil. What was the thought behind that considering the lack of competitive cricket in last one year?
She is a gun player. Many athletes perform even better after returning from injury — Smriti after her ACL injury is one such example. Retention was a management call, but we are confident Shreyanka will do even better this time.
Your thoughts on the new coaching setup — Malolan Rangarajan as head coach and Anya Shrubsole as bowling coach?
If you have a good group, you do not need a lot of changes. Malolan has been with RCB for years, both men’s and women’s teams. Anya Shrubsole also brings the experience to the table. So, it is a great opportunity to show what RCB stands for.
Finally, what will be RCB’s focus at the upcoming WPL auction?
If you see the current Indian men’s team in T20Is, it demands versatility. You need all-rounders who can bat, bowl, and field well. Decision-making time is very short in T20s, so we will be looking for players who can switch gears quickly and contribute in multiple departments.
Also Read: “The debate is done and dusted”: Prashant Shetty on Jemimah Rodrigues owning the No. 3 spot