The gender-biased question to Mandhana received some flak on the internet.
During the pre-season conference ahead of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Smriti Mandhana was asked about sharing jersey No.18 with India’s iconic player Virat Kohli. Mandhana smiled and silenced the journalist with a fitting response.
Mandhana said, “Since we are in the WPL, let’s stick to women’s cricket.”
Watch her reaction after listening to the question.
https://t.co/7kzRyrXpna pic.twitter.com/R2ryQkoTKV
— kay ☆ (@mandhanacult) February 13, 2025
The gender-biased question to Mandhana received some flak on the internet.
At a Women's Premier League press meet, Smriti Mandhana was asked about sharing the No. 18 jersey with Virat Kohli – a topic that has been spoken to bits.
— Rajdeep Saha (@rswrites25) February 13, 2025
Her answer?
"Since we are in the WPL, let's stick to women's cricket," she said with a smile.
As some journalists should!
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The 28-year-old revealed the story behind her jersey number in Shreya Ghodawat’s podcast during her birthday month last year. She explained how she had opted for No.7 but since it was taken, the board suggested she go with the No.18.
“I just feel jersey number is really kind of an overrated thing in Indian cricket or Indian culture. I like 18, I have 18. It’s my birthday, 18 July. He [Virat Kohli] has 18 for his own reasons. Coincidently, it became a thing. I initially wanted 7 because my roll number was 7 in school. Some other girl had taken, so someone at BCCI told me, ‘Just take 18, your birthday is on 18”, said Mandhana.
Watch the full video here.
In men’s cricket, India’s former captain MS Dhoni dons jersey No.7.
The defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, will face Gujarat Giants in the WPL 2025 opener at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara on February 14. Under Mandhana’s captaincy, the women’s team of Bengaluru-based franchise lifted their first Indian T20 League trophy. The men’s team is yet to win the campaign since the inception of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008.
Mandhana’s women will look to update their trophy cabinet in WPL 2025 as well. On the other hand, Rajat Patidar will lead the men’s team for IPL 2025 starting on March 21. From one skipper to another, Mandhana backed her counterpart.
Smriti Mandhana said – "I'm sure Rajat Patidar will get a lot of support from the Legends of the game like Virat Kohli in the team. He has the backing of Legend of the game. I'm sure he got a lot of backing in the RCB team". pic.twitter.com/9u3pk1pi9A
— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) February 14, 2025
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