Indian women cricket star Smriti Mandhana Was at the center of an unforgettable fan moment during the first T20I of Five match series against Sri Lanka Supporters raised slogans in loud football style at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam. “We love you Smriti, we do!”
The touching tribute, captured on camera from multiple angles, has since gone viral on social media platforms.
The chant echoed around the packed stands when Mandhana was on the field, creating a rare crossover moment between football fan culture and cricket’s traditionally quiet applause.
Vizag crowd sang songs for Smriti Mandhana
As the slogan gained momentum, hundreds of fans could be heard singing in unison repeating the line “We love you memory, we do” Many times. Mandhana, clearly touched by the gesture, paused to acknowledge the crowd with a warm smile and a wave, prompting even louder cheers.
The spontaneous outpouring of affection reflects Mandhana’s immense popularity, not just as a cricketer but as one of the most recognizable faces of women’s sports in India.
The crowd is making it loud and clear! Always behind Smriti Mandhana. #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/GqAvz93P1E
– Reverse Sweep (@trspodcastt) 21 December 2025
Short videos filmed near the stands and boundary ropes quickly became popular on Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. The clip showed fans singing along in perfect rhythm while Mandhana reacted with obvious appreciation, a moment that resonated strongly among the online audience.
Fan pages re-shared the video with captions celebrating Mandhana’s impact, and the footage was viewed thousands of times within a matter of hours, with comments praising the atmosphere and growing fan culture surrounding women’s cricket in India.
Emotional night for Mandhana on many fronts
The viral moment came on a particularly emotional night for Mandhana. The left-hander was making a comeback to international cricket and marked the occasion by crossing the milestone of 4,000 runs in T20 Internationals, a milestone that further cemented his status among the game’s elite.
His presence and performance were central to India’s strong performance, adding an extra layer of celebration to the evening and making the crowd’s tribute even more meaningful.
Also read: Shafali Verma reveals Team India’s next big goal after World Cup win
India has taken an early lead in the T20 series against Sri Lanka
On the field, India Women made a winning start to the series against Sri Lanka Women, taking a 1-0 lead. Mandhana’s contribution with the bat was instrumental in setting the tone, ensuring that the night ended on a high note for both the player and the team.
India achieved the target of 122 runs in just 14.4 overs. jemima rodrigues And captain Harmanpreet Kaur remained unbeaten on 69 and 15 runs respectively.
The second contest between the two sides is scheduled for Tuesday, December 23 at the same venue.
Also read: IND-W vs SL-W: Smriti Mandhana breaks Suzie Bates’ record in T20Is
This article was first published here WomenCricket.comA Cricket Times Company.
