Despite India's below-par show in 2021, star Indian opening batter Smriti Mandhana was named as the ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year for 2021.
India won just 2 of the 8 limited-overs games in the home series vs South Africa but Mandhana played a crucial role in both those victories. She scored an unbeaten 80 to help India win an ODI and also smashed 48 not out in the final T20I. She also helped India draw a history Test in England with a sublime 78. Mandhana had an impressive Australia tour as well where she started the ODI series with a gritty 86. She later smashed her maiden Test hundred in the 1st Test.
She was rewarded for her consistent show and thus became the first Indian woman to win this award twice. She won it in 2018 as well.