The Barbie Feat! Smriti Mandhana Becomes First-Ever Cricketer In The World To Achieve...

Smriti Mandhana with her own figurine [Source: X]

India Women cricketer Smriti Mandhana has yet again made history in the world of cricket, but not for her on-field records this time. The premier India batter has become the first cricketer ever to have a one-of-a-kind Barbie doll figurine of herself.

This latest development was announced by Smriti Mandhana on her own Instagram handle, where she posed with the Barbie doll figure that impersonated her with the No. 18 jersey along with her bat and gloves.

The Barbie And Smriti Mandhana Collab

The figurine that Smriti received is a custom-made model designed after Mandhana's likeness, complete with her cricket gear. This collaboration was announced by Mattel on March 5 as part of the brand's first-ever Global Barbie Dream Team initiative.

For the unaware, Barbie is a global fashion doll franchise owned and manufactured by Mattel Inc., an American toy and entertainment company. The industry has evolved from a single female figurine toy into a multi-billion-dollar brand that now encompasses media, fashion, and social initiatives as well.

The doll is sold in over 150 countries and has more than 99% global brand awareness, with over 1 billion dolls sold since its launch back in 1959. Notably, the franchise also has over 36 animated films and multiple TV series based on it.

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Why Did Mandhana Receive A Special Edition Barbie Doll?

Smriti Mandhana's special edition Barbie is part of the Dream Team initiative ands will not be available for retail sale. It represents Mandhana as the sole Indian representative as an Indian cricketer in a global lineup of eight female changemakers, just ahead of International Women's Day.

This is a special tribute for the cricketer, aiming to celebrate her journey and her role in breaking barriers for women in sports. Alongside Smriti, celebrities like Serena Williams, Chloe Kelly, and Helen Fischer have also been honoured by Barbie with their special figurines.

Smriti Explores Her Barbie Doll

In a video released by Smriti on Instagram, she was seen exploring the special edition toy that represented her. The figurine wore Smriti's iconic No. 18 jersey, and also came with a mini bat with “SM18” written on it along with a pair of gloves to customize it as per Smriti's likeness.

"Oh, so cute, so nice. I genuinely love the doll. They made the jersey so, so, so nice. It's actually very, very nice. They've made it so similar to what I use, which is so cool. I mean, I can't explain it in words. It's just a very nice moment to see this happening and me having something very similar to what I've grown up watching, like Barbie is something so emotional for everyone. So it's extremely cool," Mandhana shared while exploring the gift in the Instagram video.

The video posted by Smriti Mandhana on March 5 at around 3 PM IST has garnered 238K likes as she shared it with an emotional caption on her handle.

"Still processing this moment… Seeing a one-of-a-kind @Barbie doll inspired by my journey is something I never imagined growing up. Cricket has given me so much, and if my story helps even one girl believe she belongs on the field, that means everything.

Honoured to be part of Barbie’s Dream Team alongside incredible women from around the world who are breaking barriers in their own fields. When girls see what’s possible, they dream bigger." - Mandhana wrote.

Smriti Mandhana’s Recent Cricketing Form

Speaking of Mandhana's recent exploits, she is coming off the Australia tour, where she participated in the T20 and ODI games. In the T20I series, she scored 129 runs at an average of 64.50 from three innings, registering impressive scores like 82 and 31 at a strike rate of 134.38.

In the ODI series, however, she had a quieter run with 89 runs from three matches, which also included a duck in the third and final ODI of the series that Australia won.

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