Smriti Mandhana Named BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2025

Star batter Smriti Mandhana was named BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2025 after playing a pivotal role in India’s historic 2025 Women’s World Cup triumph. The 29-year-old left-hander from Sangli, Maharashtra has already established herself among the greats of women’s cricket, She has the second-highest number of centuries in ODIs among current players with 24 hundreds , and the third-highest total runs with 5,628 runs. In September 2025, she scored a 50-ball century against Australia, marking the fastest international ton by an Indian, surpassing Virat Kohli’s previous record of 52 balls.

Mandhana’s main competition for the award included chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh , who won the FIDE Women’s World Cup at 20, and Para-athlete Preethi Pal , who clinched two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Paralympics . Anjali Bhagwat , India’s trailblazing shooter, was also in contention and was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award .

The winners were selected by a distinguished jury comprising Leander Paes, Deepa Malik, and Anju Bobby George . BBC News CEO Jonathan Munro praised the athletes for showcasing human endeavour and sporting excellence . The ceremony also highlighted the contributions of other star performers and changemakers across Indian sport, reinforcing the growing impact of women in shaping the nation’s sporting landscape.