Smriti Mandhana has become the top run-scorer in international women's cricket, surpassing Mithali Raj with a record-breaking century in the Asia Cup.
Indian cricket star Smriti Mandhana has etched her name into the history books, officially becoming the highest run-scorer in the annals of women's international cricket. The 30-year-old achieved this monumental feat during a commanding performance at the Women’s Asia Cup held in Dubai. dhana surpassed the long-standing record of 10,868 international runs previously held
This achievement not only solidifies Mandhana’s status as one of the most prolific batters of the modern era but also underscores her consistency across all formats of the game. Her aggressive innings during the tournament helped secure a vital victory for the Indian side, effectively cementing their place in the semifinals. The match, which saw India post a total of 193-5, culminated in a lopsided 137-run win as the opposition was bundled out for just 56 runs.
Beyond the total run count, Mandhana has also claimed the top spot for the most centuries in international women’s cricket. With her latest explosive performance, she reached a career tally of 18 centuries across Test, One Day International (ODI), and T20 International (T20I) formats. This milestone allows her to edge past previous record-holders Meg Lanning of Australia and Laura Wolvaardt of South Africa, both of whom have recorded 17 centuries in their respective careers.
Mandhana’s rise to the top has been marked she has consistently evolved her game to meet the demands of different formats. Notably, she became the first Indian woman to score international centuries in all three formats of the sport, a feat she accomplished last year with her maiden T20I hundred. Her current distribution of centuries includes 14 in ODIs, alongside two each in both Test matches and T20 Internationals.
Despite the magnitude of her achievement, the Indian vice-captain remained characteristically humble regarding her personal accolades. Following the match, Mandhana admitted that she was not actively tracking the specific statistics during her innings, focusing instead on the team's requirements and the immediate challenge posed discipline during the powerplay, which forced her to maintain focus and adapt her strategy early in the game.
In her post-match comments, Mandhana took the opportunity to pay tribute to her predecessor, Mithali Raj, describing the former captain as a true legend and an essential role model for generations of cricketers. She also dedicated her personal success to her family, acknowledging the support system that has allowed her to reach such heights. As she looks toward the future, the star batter emphasized that this record feels like only the beginning of her contributions to the sport, suggesting that she is hungry for further success on the international stage.
The record-breaking innings served as a reminder of Mandhana’s ability to dominate bowling attacks. Her knock against Hong Kong was highlighted emark of her playstyle. This performance was a critical component of India’s campaign in the Women’s Asia Cup, providing momentum as the team moves deeper into the tournament's knockout stages.
As women's cricket continues to grow in global popularity, performances like those of Mandhana are instrumental in elevating the standard of the game. future players will strive to reach. With her current form and experience, the cricket world will undoubtedly be watching closely to see how many more records the Indian opener can break in the coming years.
