Overview
- In a video released by Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Dinesh Karthik praised Smriti Mandhana’s calm, intuitive captaincy and said players describe her support in ways he last heard about MS Dhoni.
- Karthik spoke in his capacity as RCB’s batting coach, offering an insider view of how Mandhana leads and empowers teammates.
- Under Mandhana, Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women won the 2026 Women’s Premier League final against Delhi Capitals in what reports called the league’s highest successful chase, and she finished as the season’s top run-scorer.
- Mandhana was named to India’s squad for the T20 World Cup in England in June, extending her strong domestic form into the international spotlight.
- The Dhoni comparison carries weight in India because he is the only captain to win all three white-ball ICC tournaments.