Watch: Smriti Mandhana reveals her mother asked her to start playing Tennis

Sania Mirza, Smriti Mandhana (Image Credit: Twitter)

India opening batter and Bangalore skipper Smriti Mandhana and team mentor Sania Mirza had a light chat ahead of the team's ongoing game against Delhi in the Women's T20 League 2023. In a video uploaded by the franchise on Twitter, both players spoke about each other's journey in their respective sports. For the unversed, Mirza recently retired from professional Tennis. She was appointed the mentor of the team ahead of the ongoing tournament.

Meanwhile, during the chat, the left-hander, Mandhana told Mirza how the latter was the torch bearer for women athletes in general. The India opening batter also revealed how her mother asked her to take Tennis as a professional career. To which, Mirza said, “Thank God!”

“Somewhere I think you were the torchbearer (for women athletes), growing up I remember there being a trend of everyone wanted to be Sania Mirza.”

“I remember my mom telling me why don’t take up tennis, I was 9 or 10 as there so much scope in women’s tennis.”

Watch the video here

The Smriti Mandhana Sania Mirza Interview

On Bold Diaries, Sania and Smriti caught up to discuss cricket, tennis, pressure, privilege, RCB, women and other inspiring anecdotes.#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #SheIsBold #WPL2023 pic.twitter.com/AFS9M6MFKa

— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) March 5, 2023

Bangalore won the toss and elected to bowl first against Delhi

Meanwhile, the Red Brigade, Bangalore has won the toss and elected to bowl first against Delhi. At the toss, Mandhana said there's some grass on the wicket and they want to make use of the conditions first. "This is a huge thing for all women's cricketers now and women's cricketers yet to come. We represent all of the current players and all of the future players.

At the time of writing, the Blue Brigade, Delhi has amassed 29/0 in four overs. Skipper Meg Lanning and Shafali Varma are opening the batting for the team.