Australian cricket legend Ellyse Perry has praised Indian stars Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur, highlighting the qualities that have made them two of the leading players in women’s cricket. Perry, who led Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred 2026, described Mandhana’s skill, willpower and preparation as key to her success, while identifying Harmanpreet’s tenacity and competitive spirit as major strengths.
Speaking to JioStar, Perry also reflected on her long international career, representing Australia, the upcoming inaugural ICC Women’s Champions Trophy 2027, and the changing landscape of women’s cricket.
| Ellyse Perry Interview | Details |
|---|---|
| Player | Ellyse Perry |
| Country | Australia |
| The Hundred 2026 Team | Birmingham Phoenix |
| Topics Discussed | Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Australia, Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 |
| Smriti Mandhana’s Strengths | Skill, willpower, strong mindset, preparation |
| Harmanpreet Kaur’s Strengths | Tenacity, competitiveness, power-hitting |
| Upcoming Tournament | ICC Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 |
| Interview | Q20s with Ellyse Perry |
| Where to Watch | Star Sports YouTube Channel |
Ellyse Perry on Smriti Mandhana – “She’s Got It All”
Perry had high praise for India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, pointing to both her cricketing ability and mental strength.
According to Perry, Mandhana’s success comes from her “amazing skill” and “incredible willpower”, combined with a strong mind and meticulous approach to preparation.
She also highlighted Mandhana’s understanding of her own game and willingness to embrace challenges.
“She’s got incredible willpower and a super-strong mind.”
For Perry, it is the combination of skill, mindset, preparation and an appetite for challenges that makes Mandhana such a successful player.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s Greatest Strength is Her Tenacity
Perry also spoke about India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, describing her tenacity as one of her greatest qualities.
She considers Harmanpreet a fierce competitor who can produce some of the biggest shots in women’s cricket when she finds her rhythm.
“She’s a great competitor.”
Harmanpreet’s combination of competitiveness and power-hitting has established her as one of the major figures in the women’s game.
Ellyse Perry Reflects on Her Evolution as a Player
Having spent many years at the highest level, Perry believes evolution happens naturally through accumulated experiences.
Working with different people, exploring new approaches and continuing to learn have helped her make small improvements throughout her career.
Rather than pointing to one major change, Perry views her development as the result of years of experience and incremental improvements.
Representing Australia is Perry’s Proudest Achievement
Despite a career filled with major individual and team achievements, Perry picked something simple when asked about her proudest accomplishment.
Representing Australia remains the achievement she values most.
Perry described herself as a passionate and patriotic Australian and said she loves having the opportunity to represent her country.
ICC Women’s Champions Trophy 2027
Perry is also looking forward to the inaugural ICC Women’s Champions Trophy in 2027, describing the new tournament as another important opportunity for women’s cricket.
As a new addition to the calendar, she believes the competition will bring fresh excitement for players and participating teams.
Perry also expects the tournament to present a significant physical and mental challenge, making preparation particularly important.
Her competitive approach, however, remains straightforward — teams enter every match wanting to win.
Perry’s Advice for Young Girls Taking Up Cricket
Perry recalled the support she received while growing up, particularly from her father, with whom she regularly practised in the nets.
She believes the environment awaiting young female cricketers today is very different from when she began her career. Emerging players now enter professional cricket much better prepared for the demands of the sport.
Rather than offering one specific piece of advice, Perry stressed the importance of players supporting and learning from each other.
She also acknowledged that experienced cricketers can learn from younger players, who bring different experiences, energy and approaches to the game.
Ellyse Perry Ends The Hundred 2026 Campaign on a High
Perry captained Birmingham Phoenix during The Hundred 2026. Although the team’s overall campaign was disappointing, she finished their league season on a positive note with a match-winning performance in the final game.
Her reflections on experience, leadership and continuous improvement underline the longevity of a career spent competing at the highest level.
Q20s with Ellyse Perry can be watched exclusively on the Star Sports YouTube Channel.
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