Smriti Mandhana used the OnePlus 15R launch stage to share her love for gaming and praise BGMI star Jonathan Amaral.
Indian women’s cricket opener Smriti Mandhana drew huge attention at the OnePlus 15R launch event, not just for her cricketing fame but for her honest talk about BGMI and Indian esports. She recalled teaming up with star pro Jonathan Amaral during OnePlus Dominate Season 1 and spoke fondly about that experience.
Smriti Mandhana’s BGMI memory with Jonathan
On stage, Smriti shared a fun story from the OnePlus Dominate S1 showmatch, where she played BGMI alongside Jonathan. She happily reminded everyone,
“I remember playing with Jonathan at OnePlus Dominate S1. I won that one and took home the chicken dinner.”
This showed her competitive mindset is not limited to cricket. She clearly enjoyed the pressure and thrill of the match, treating it like any other high-stakes game she plays on the field.
Praise for Jonathan and esports respect
Smriti also openly praised Jonathan’s gameplay. She mentioned that she closely follows his game and admires his strategy, aim, and decision-making under pressure.
Jonathan, a key player for GodLike Esports, is known for his sharp aim, fast reflexes, and calm responses in clutch BGMI moments, which has earned him a massive fanbase. Smriti’s respect for his skills shows how top traditional athletes are now recognising esports pros as serious competitors, not just casual gamers. This kind of acknowledgement helps esports gain more mainstream acceptance in India.
OnePlus 15R and its gaming focus
The event also highlighted the launch of the OnePlus 15R, a smartphone clearly built with gaming in mind. The device offers:
- High-performance hardware for smooth gameplay
- Better display quality for clear visuals
- Improved cooling for long gaming sessions
It targets both esports professionals like Jonathan and gaming fans such as Smriti Mandhana who expect stable, high-quality performance from their phones.
All in all, Smriti’s playful yet respectful comments created a natural bridge between cricket and esports. Her story about winning a Chicken Dinner with Jonathan, combined with her praise of his BGMI prowess, showed that she sees gaming as more than just a hobby.