Dinesh Karthik heaps praise on Royal Challengers Bengaluru's captain Smriti Mandhana

Dinesh Karthik

Former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik has heaped rich praise on India's charismatic batter and Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Smriti Mandhana, praising her leadership qualities and composure, while drawing comparisons with former India captain MS Dhoni.

Under the leadership of Mandhana, RCB dominated the Women's Premier League 2026 season, winning their second title. Speaking about Mandhana, Karthik described her as one of his favourite players, highlighting not just her batting ability but also the calm authority and freedom she brings as a leader.

Smriti Mandhana

"The way she carries herself and the clarity she has with what she is doing. She's very self-assured," he said in a video released by RCB on X. Karthik emphasised Mandhana's intuitive understanding of match situations, noting that her ability to read the game sets her apart.

He also praised her leadership style, pointing out how she empowers teammates by giving them the freedom to express themselves while remaining a dependable presence in moments of uncertainty."She knows what she is doing. Her ability to grasp situations very intuitively.

She gives us the freedom and allows us to do what we want. At the same time, if you're in any doubt, she's there," he said. "And guess what? The last person I heard who players had a similar attribute about was MS Dhoni," he added.

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