“I will take the 45 days of not sleeping every night”: Smriti Mandhana on World Cup win
India’s women’s cricket team achieved a milestone on November 2, 2025 — lifting their first-ever ICC Women’s One Day International (ODI) World Cup. The victory was a team achievement, but for many fans the emotional words of vice-captain Smriti Mandhana captured what the trophy meant: “I will take those 45 days of not sleeping every night” for this moment. In this article we unpack what she meant, how Mandhana contributed on the field, and why this triumph matters for Indian women’s cricket. reuters.com+1
Smriti Mandhana — the calm force in India’s World Cup run
Smriti Mandhana entered the tournament as one of the world’s top ODI batters and India’s vice-captain. Her style blends graceful strokeplay with controlled aggression — a combination that has made her a constant threat at the top of the order. Throughout the 2025 World Cup cycle she repeatedly provided strong starts and big partnerships that set India up in crunch matches. Her presence at the top relieved pressure on the middle order and allowed India to play a fearless brand of cricket.
What the “45 days of not sleeping” line means
When Mandhana mentioned “45 days of not sleeping every night,” she was giving voice to the exhaustion and total focus that often accompany major tournaments. International competitions, especially ones hosted with intense media and public expectation, involve travel, training, tactical preparation, and emotional swings. Her comment was a shorthand for the sacrifice — late-night planning, travel, anxiety before big games, and the single-minded pursuit of a long-held goal. Put simply: those sleepless nights were worth it.
The decisive final and Mandhana’s role
India beat South Africa in the final by 52 runs at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai to lift the trophy. It was the culmination of a campaign that tested the team’s depth and resolve after a few stumbles in the league stage. The final was a collective performance — batters set up a defendable total and bowlers executed under pressure — and Mandhana’s leadership as vice-captain provided stability during tense moments.
Key performances that mattered (including Mandhana’s cricketing form)
- Earlier in the tournament, Mandhana produced match-defining knocks — including a century and consistent match-winning starts — that pushed India into a strong position in the group stage and knockout rounds. Her partnership-building ability proved crucial in converting good starts into big totals.
- In the semi-final run-up and the final, the team’s collective application — fielding, bowling plans, and depth in batting — mirrored the tactical improvement that Mandhana and senior leaders had been stressing. That improvement helped India close out tight moments.
Leadership and team culture — Smriti Mandhana’s quieter impact
Mandhana’s influence is not only measured in runs. Teammates and commentators often highlight her calm temperament, which helps younger players stay composed in high-pressure moments. After the win she spoke warmly about the team’s unity — the way players supported one another through tough patches and celebrated successes together. That culture, built over months of hard work and honest conversations, was on full display when India finally crossed the line.
Why culture matters in big tournaments
Teams that win world trophies rarely rely on a single superstar alone; they blend skills, role clarity, and emotional support. Mandhana’s leadership style — leading by example, staying positive, and making room for teammates to express themselves — helped create an environment where errors were corrected quickly and confidence was rebuilt after setbacks. That’s a big reason why the team could recover from mid-tournament losses to lift the trophy.
What this World Cup win means for Smriti Mandhana’s legacy
Smriti Mandhana already had an impressive CV — international centuries, central roles in domestic franchise success, and individual awards such as recognition in Wisden lists. Winning the World Cup adds the most coveted team prize to her resume and cements her status as one of India’s greatest women cricketers. This title will shape how future generations view her: not just as an elegant batter but as a leader who helped deliver a historic national triumph.
The wider impact — women’s cricket in India after Mandhana and Co.
A World Cup win does more than fill trophy cabinets; it changes the landscape. Expect increased grassroots interest, more sponsorship attention, better fixtures, and greater media coverage for domestic and youth female cricketers. Smriti Mandhana and her teammates have given young girls a visible pathway: international stardom built on hard work, professionalism, and team-first thinking. That legacy could reshape Indian cricket’s pipeline for years.
Takeaways — practical lessons from Mandhana’s World Cup journey
- Consistency beats flashiness. Mandhana’s steady run-scoring under pressure shows how reliable contributions compound into tournament-defining totals.
- Leadership is both runs and temperament. Her calm influence helped younger players perform when it mattered most.
- Sacrifice pays off. The “45 sleepless nights” line is a reminder that success often requires discomfort and long hours behind the scenes.
Final thought — why this quote will be remembered
Smriti Mandhana’s “I will take those 45 days of not sleeping every night” is more than a catchy soundbite. It’s a moment of emotional honesty from an athlete who knows the price of elite performance. It acknowledges the strain of big tournaments and celebrates the payoff: a World Cup trophy that belongs to an entire country now dreaming bigger for women’s sport. For Mandhana, it’s a phrase that summarizes a career milestone — and for Indian cricket, it marks the start of a new, exciting chapter.
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