What 107 innings reveals about Smriti-Shafali opening pair

India’s new T20I captain Smriti Mandhana and vice-captain Shafali Verma have combined for 4,080 runs, 50% more than any other pair in women’s T20Is.

On 6 October, Smriti was named as India’s white-ball captain and Shafali as her deputy in the T20 Internationals (T20Is). Two Indian leaders are also its openers.

When India take on Zimbabwe in Raipur from October 16, they will be facing the first ball together. Their partnership is already the most productive in the format. Ball-by-ball figures for every women’s T20I up to October 7 show that in 107 innings since 2019, the two have added 4,080 runs for the first wicket, at an average of 39.2 runs per dismissal at 8.34 overs.

Australians Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney are second with 2,715 runs in 84 innings; UAE’s Esha Oza and Theertha Satish are third with 2,588.

The Indian pair also have 32 stands of 50 or more, 12 more than any other pair, and a shared record of six centuries. The lead is recent: India’s line will steepen from 2025, just as Australia’s will stop.

The chart below shows the cumulative opening partnerships over time for the six most prolific pairings in women’s T20Is. Every step represents a partnership.

Fast and reliable

The table below compares the 31 opening pairings with at least 20 innings combined. A typical pair averages 26 runs per dismissal under seven and over.

Each circle represents a starting pair with at least 20 innings combined. The size of the circle indicates the total number of runs, while the axes show the average number of runs per release and runs per release. Dashed lines indicate a typical pair

Among the 10 pairs with more than 1,000 runs, none are scoring faster. England’s Danni Wyatt and Sophia Dunkley are closest (8.23 and over) but average 28; South Africans Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits average 44.4 but score 6.85. Only Omani pair with more than 20 innings leads on both points. Smriti also changed the pairing: she opened with Mithali Raj in 7.07 an over; with Shafalim, 8:34.

A pair can average more by surviving longer or scoring faster. The Indian pair can last 28 balls per wicket against 25 for other established pairs, but scores over one and a half runs faster. The table below compares the Smriti-Shafali partnership with other established opening pairs, covering balls faced at the wicket, scoring rate and number of runs for dismissal

Note: Powerplay figures only count balls bowled when the starting stand was intact. “Other opening pair” refers to the other 30 pairs with at least 20 innings combined for full partnership figures and all other opening pairs for power play figures

Of their 11 extra runs at the plate, about seven have come from speed and four from holding on longer. The difference is sharpest in the over: 8.4 over the other openers’ 5.8, about 15 extra runs in six overs, with boundaries off 22.7% of balls, double the others. Survival is hardly different: 26% of their stands last six overs, compared to 23%. Pitchers dismiss them as often as any good pair; they just can’t stop the runs at first.

After a dip in 2023 when they scored at 7.04 per over, the pair have averaged 48 runs per innings at 9.27 per over since January 2025, compared to 34 at 7.91 before. Their 973 runs in 2026 are the most in any year.

The chart below compares partnership starts by calendar year along with scoring rate and innings. Blue bars represent 2025 and 2026 (until October 7)

India have won 60 of the 100 completed matches in which the pair have opened, but their results have varied significantly with the size of the opening stand. When the pair added less than 20 runs, India won 51% of the matches; for stalls 20-49 it was 50%. However, once they crossed 50, India won 24 out of 29 matches (83%). Until the number reaches 50, India’s win rate barely moves; outside of it, their chances increase sharply.

Duties have increased

The appointment puts India’s most important stage in the hands of its leaders, but carries with it risk. In 18% of their innings combined, the two fell below 15, leaving India soon without their captain and vice-captain. Yet in 65% of the innings at least one scored 30 or more.

Both are currently scoring faster than ever. In their last 15 innings, Shafali’s strike rate crossed 170 and Mandhana’s 150, career highs over any stretch of 15 innings. The Zimbabwe series will show if the leadership changes the pace.

Data for the charts was obtained from Cricsheet (cricsheet.org) ball-by-ball records of the Women’s T20 Internationals up to 7 October. Win figures exclude draws and no results

Kapil Gupta is Assistant Professor of Decision Sciences and Operations Management at IIM Kozhikode

Published – 16 Oct 2026 08:00 IST