As the Women's Premier League 2024 final approaches, veteran players Smriti Mandhana and Meg Lanning reflect on their journeys from young stars to international superstars. Despite a slow start in 2023, Mandhana has led her team, RCB, to the verge of making history. Her leadership skills and ability to stay calm under pressure have earned her praise from her teammates and opponents alike, including Lanning herself. The two have shared valuable advice and support for each other, showcasing the camaraderie and sportsmanship in the cricketing world.
Meg Lanning and Smriti Mandhana: Trailblazers of Women's Cricket
As the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2024 final nears, two iconic cricketers, Meg Lanning and Smriti Mandhana, stand as towering figures in the sport. Their journeys from young prodigies to international superstars provide inspiration for aspiring cricketers worldwide.
Meg Lanning: The Australian Captaincy Maestro
Meg Lanning has been a cornerstone of Australian cricket for over a decade. As captain, she has led the team to unprecedented success, including five ICC Women's World Cup titles. Lanning is renowned for her exceptional batting skills and her ability to inspire her team through her calm and analytical leadership.
Smriti Mandhana: India's Star Batswoman
Smriti Mandhana is one of the most talented batter in women's cricket today. Her elegant strokeplay and ability to read the game have made her a formidable opponent. Mandhana has led India to several notable victories, including the Asia Cup in 2018.
WPL 2024 and the Camaraderie
In the WPL 2024, Lanning and Mandhana represent opposing teams, but they share a mutual respect and admiration for each other. Their shared experiences and common goal of promoting women's cricket have fostered a bond between them. Lanning has praised Mandhana's leadership qualities, while Mandhana has commended Lanning's ability to stay composed under pressure.
Top 5 FAQs
How old is Meg Lanning? Meg Lanning is 31 years old.
How many World Cups has Smriti Mandhana won? Smriti Mandhana has won 1 ICC Women's World Cup title.
What is Meg Lanning's batting average in international T20s? Meg Lanning's batting average in international T20s is 38.69.
What is Smriti Mandhana's highest score in international cricket? Smriti Mandhana's highest score in international cricket is 225, scored against South Africa in 2023.
Who is the captain of the Indian team in the WPL 2024? Smriti Mandhana is the captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore team in the WPL 2024.
In a high-stakes Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 match, Gujarat Giants beat Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their home turf. Despite a strong bowling performance from RCB’s Renuka Singh Thakur, a captain’s knock from Ashleigh Gardner and a disciplined bowling effort by GG led to a six-wicket win for the visitors. Former India skipper Anjum Chopra highlighted how the early loss of wickets and a lack of breakthroughs from RCB's bowlers resulted in their defeat. She also praised the depth of talent in the Australian players, as Gardner emerged as the hero for GG in this crucial match.
Despite the torrential rain and high hopes of Australian fans at the Formula One Australian Grand Prix, local driver Oscar Piastri's race ended in disappointment with a skid into the gravel on lap 44. This was the nation's 40-year wait for a home winner, but Piastri's ninth-place finish was a good recovery in a race filled with crashes and safety car deployments. However, the "home driver curse" continues as the last Australian to take a podium place was Daniel Ricciardo in 2014, who was later disqualified.
In a thrilling battle for the win at the Australian Grand Prix, Lando Norris held off Max Verstappen's late charge to claim victory. However, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes Norris got "nervous" as Verstappen closed in, leading to a mistake at Turn 6 that allowed Verstappen to get within striking distance. Despite the pressure, Norris was able to hold on for the win, showcasing his impressive skills in the challenging conditions.
After switching from Mercedes to Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton finishes 10th at the Australian Grand Prix and admits his weekend did not go as planned. The seven-time world champion struggled with the car, but managed to secure a point in a chaotic race. Hamilton remains determined and is looking forward to the next race in China.
Young Australian driver, Oscar Piastri, suffers a dramatic spin and spinout in the wet conditions at the F1 Australian Grand Prix. Despite teammate Lando Norris's win, Piastri's mistake on his home turf ruins a potential one-two finish for McLaren. Piastri takes full responsibility for the error that caused him to finish in ninth place.
Fans were excited to see Lewis Hamilton in his debut race with Ferrari at the Australian Grand Prix, but tough weather conditions made it a challenging day for the seven-time World Champion. Despite struggling with wet-weather settings on his steering wheel, Hamilton managed to cross the finish line in P10. He expressed frustration over missed opportunities on strategy, but was ultimately satisfied with just keeping his car on the track in a race where several drivers crashed out. Stay updated with head-to-head race statistics between team-mates and the full F1 schedule for 2025.
The 2025 F1 season kicked off in dramatic fashion at the Albert Park circuit as Lando Norris clinched victory for McLaren in a nail-biting finish. Red Bull's Max Verstappen gave a strong chase but ultimately settled for second place, while seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton struggled with his new team, Ferrari, finishing in 10th place. The race was filled with chaos and challenging weather conditions, resulting in a reduced number of finishers and an overall thrilling start to the F1 season.
Spanish driver Carlos Sainz, who joined Williams after his time with Ferrari, clinched a top-10 finish at the Australian Grand Prix qualification, with teammate Alex Albon also securing a solid sixth place. The 30-year-old Sainz expressed his satisfaction with the team's hard work leading up to the race and his determination to continue improving throughout the season. Albon, who had a crash last season, noted the significant improvements in the car and expects close competition with teams like Red Bull and Alpine in the future races.
In a thrilling Formula 1 race in Barcelona, Lando Norris took the win despite having a moment off the track amidst changing weather conditions. Meanwhile, his teammate Oscar Piastri faced a similar fate, losing precious time and dropping out of contention. However, he managed to make a comeback and secure a ninth-place finish. Jack Doohan and Liam Lawson also faced difficulties on the slippery track, while Isack Hadjar crashed even before the start of the race. Norris thwarted off a challenge from Max Verstappen to maintain his lead, while Piastri slipped to third behind Verstappen.
Seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton, expressed his disappointment with his Ferrari debut, admitting it was worse than he expected. Despite finishing in a lackluster 10th place, Hamilton found solace in keeping the car "out of the wall." McLaren's Lando Norris claimed victory in a thrilling race, while Hamilton's former teammate, George Russell, secured a solid third-place finish for Mercedes. With only 14 of the 20 cars finishing the race in treacherous conditions, Hamilton was content with completing the race.