Ellyse Perry has highlighted Smriti Mandhana’s mental strength and approach to the game as key factors behind the India vice-captain’s success, while also praising Harmanpreet Kaur’s tenacity and competitive instinct.
Perry, who led Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred 2026, reflected on her own career, India’s senior batting leaders and the challenges that await women’s cricket at the inaugural ICC Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 in an interview with JioStar.
Perry on what makes Smriti Mandhana successful
Perry singled out Mandhana’s combination of skill, preparation and mental strength when asked about the India opener’s success.
“What makes Smriti so successful? Her amazing skill. I think she’s got incredible willpower and a super-strong mind,” Perry told JioStar.
The Australia all-rounder also pointed to the way Mandhana approaches preparation and challenges, highlighting her self-awareness as another defining quality.
“The way she approaches the game, the way she prepares, the way she knows herself, the way she thinks about things, and the way that she likes challenges. She’s got it all,” Perry said.
Mandhana and Harmanpreet are set to remain central figures for India as the women’s game moves towards another major global tournament.
Perry praises Harmanpreet Kaur’s tenacity
Perry also identified a different quality in India’s captain.
“Harman, I think her greatest strength is her tenacity. She’s a great competitor,” Perry said.
The Australian also pointed to Harmanpreet’s power with the bat, saying the India captain can produce some of the biggest shots in women’s cricket when she is in form.
“She’s a great competitor, and when she’s going, she hits some of the biggest shots in the women’s game,” Perry added.
Perry excited by Women’s Champions Trophy
The inaugural ICC Women’s Champions Trophy in 2027 will provide another new opportunity for the women’s game, and Perry expects the tournament to test teams physically and mentally.
“It’s another great opportunity for the women’s game and for all the teams competing,” she said.
Perry described the introduction of a new tournament as exciting, particularly because it adds another event to the international calendar.
“This tournament will be physically and mentally a huge challenge, and preparing for those matches, everyone’s going to have to be spot on,” she said.
Despite the added demands, Perry believes the approach should remain straightforward.
“The mindset remains the same, you just want to win every game.”
Perry reflects on what she is most proud of
Perry has spent years evolving as an international cricketer, but when asked about the achievement she is proudest of, she chose representing Australia.
“Honestly, just being able to play for Australia would be my proudest achievement,” Perry said.
“I’m a really passionate and patriotic Australian, and I love representing my country.”
The all-rounder also reflected on the gradual nature of development throughout a long career, saying her evolution has come through years of experiences, people, challenges and small adjustments rather than one defining change.
“You just naturally evolve as you grow as a person,” she said.
Perry’s message to the next generation
Perry also credited her upbringing and her father for helping shape her cricket journey.
She recalled growing up playing locally and regularly going to the nets with her father, who she described as someone who taught her almost everything she knows about cricket and remained a confidant throughout her career.
But Perry believes the current generation of young cricketers enters a very different professional environment from the one she experienced.
“I think the landscape of women’s cricket is really different these days,” she said.
Rather than offering one universal piece of advice, Perry stressed the importance of players supporting each other and remaining willing to learn across generations.
“They’ve got a different experience, a different energy and a different way of going about things,” she said. “So, it’s just about supporting each other and having a really open mind to learn from each other.”