Team India star Smriti Mandhana gave a blunt response when repeatedly questioned about her famous jersey number. Interestingly, she shares the same number (18) as Virat Kohli. On an episode of The Long Off Show, she was asked how she felt about being asked over and over again about having the same jersey number as Kohli.
Smriti candidly revealed that being asked the same question constantly left her feeling irritated.
“I feel like, okay, before 2017 you can ask that, I still understand that. It’s come a long way from what you know it was. Even now, you know, there are questions like “Is this how it really is? Does this actually happen?” I mean, the fact that my jersey number is the same, everything is the same, and honestly, I have crazy respect even for Virat.”
“But the fact is, we’re going into a tournament that’s a women’s cricket tournament. Being asked the same question again and again about how it feels to have the same jersey number, that irritates me quite a lot and I am sure Virat would agree to that,” she said.
Smriti Mandhana served as the vice-captain of the Indian team that recently lifted the 2025 World Cup. The Women in Blue defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the final to secure their first-ever ICC trophy.
Smriti Mandhana On Hilarious Questions And What Her Surname Really Means
The Indian batting star also addressed the misconceptions about her surname. She explained that many assumed she was from Coorg because of her last name, Mandhana. The 29-year-old recalled being referred to as “Coorg’s pride” and “Coorg’s honor” when India reached the final of the 2017 World Cup.
“Because of my surname, a lot of people think I’m from Coorg because I think Mandana, I don’t know how it’s pronounced there, but it’s a very Coorgi surname. When people start talking Kannada, I’m like, “Okay, it’ll take a little time for me.”
“And someone actually told me that during the 2017 World Cup, that was the first time women’s cricket was seen. There were posters like “Coorg’s pride” and “Coorg’s honor” or something. I’m not sure if I’ve seen it, but that’s what I heard,” she said.
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