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India’s batting superstar Smriti Mandhana enters the record books with a stunning century
New Delhi: India’s star opener Smriti Mandhana has rewritten the record books, emerging as the highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket across formats and surpassing former India captain Mithali Raj’s long-standing tally.
Mandhana reached the landmark during India’s Asia Cup 2026 clash against Hong Kong, producing a breathtaking century that underlined her status as one of the most prolific batters in the women’s game.
The left-handed opener smashed 124 runs from just 64 deliveries striking 14 boundaries and seven sixes. Her explosive innings not only powered India to a commanding total but also took her international career aggregate beyond Mithali Raj’s previous record.
Mandhana’s tally moved to 10,880 international runs edging past Mithali’s 10,868. New Zealand’s Suzie Bates remains among the closest challengers, with more than 10,700 runs to her name.
The achievement assumes added significance because Mithali has been one of Mandhana’s biggest inspirations. The former India skipper’s contribution to women’s cricket and her extraordinary longevity had made her record particularly formidable.
Mandhana’s latest milestone also adds another dimension to an already remarkable career. Her century was her 18th in international cricket, taking her past Australia great Meg Lanning for the most international hundreds in the women’s game.
Her attacking display proved decisive against Hong Kong. India secured a comprehensive 137-run victory, with Mandhana’s batting setting the platform for a dominant team performance.
Having established herself as a mainstay of India’s batting line-up across Tests, ODIs and T20Is, Mandhana has consistently combined technical fluency with aggressive strokeplay. Her ability to adapt across formats has been central to her remarkable accumulation of runs.
Surpassing Mithali Raj is therefore more than a statistical achievement. It represents a symbolic transition between two generations of Indian women’s cricket one in which Mandhana has moved from being a promising young opener to becoming the sport’s leading run-producing force.
And with Mandhana still an active international cricketer, the record is unlikely to remain static. The latest milestone could merely be another marker in what is shaping up to be one of the most distinguished batting careers in women’s cricket.
