Meet The Athletes Featured In Deepika Padukone’s Nike Ad

Smriti Mandhana

The third member of the Indian women’s cricket team to feature in the ad, Smriti caught the attention of the cricketing community when she scored a half-century in her Test debut to help her team win against England.

The left-hand batsman was just nine when she was picked for Maharashtra’s Under-15 state side. It was in 10th standard — when she had to choose between choosing science or pursuing her passion — that she made her decision. She had her doubts along the way, but they were all dismissed after her remarkable performance in England.

Other celebrities like sprinter Shweta Hakke and model Gabriella Demetriades also feature in the video. The popularity of this ad is truly an indication that female athletes are no longer an anomaly in India, where athletics had remained a male dominated field for a long time. We must appreciate Nike’s push for more inclusivity in sports. With Rio 2016 just around the corner, let’s chant ‘Da Da Ding’ and cheer for our female athletes on their way to success!

In case you missed it, watch the ad here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1UvPZ8fD4B8