Smriti Mandhana makes history, surpassing Mithali Raj to become the highest run scorer in women’s cricket
Smriti Mandhana (Image credit: BCCI) NEW DELHI: Smriti Mandhana has already established herself as one of the top batsmen in women’s cricket, but on Thursday she reached a new peak – becoming the most prolific run-scorer in the history of the women’s game.During India’s 2026 Women’s Asia Cup match against Hong Kong China in Dubai, the Indian vice-captain surpassed legendary former captain Mithali Raj’s 10,868 international runs to become the top run-scorer in women’s international cricket across all formats.And she did it in spectacular fashion.Mandhana produced a breathtaking 124 off 64 balls, smashing 14 fours and seven sixes at 193.75 as India posted 193/5 after being asked to bat first. Her record innings not only took her past Mithali but also created a number of new milestones.
Mandhana walks past Mithali in style
Mandhana went into the match knowing that she was closing in on Mithali’s long-standing record. The 30-year-old, who had already overtaken New Zealand great Suzie Bates to move into second during the Asia Cup opener against Thailand, needed one more big hit to break the all-time record.She delivered much more than that.Mandhana initially had to negotiate with the slow Dubai surface and disciplined Hong Kong bowling. Shafali Verma provided an early boost, with the opening pair putting on 50 before Verma departed for 28 off 17 balls.However, once Mandhana settled down, the innings changed gears.She reached her half-century and then launched an extraordinary onslaught, moving from 50 to 100 in just 17 deliveries. Her hundred came off 57 balls before eventually finishing with 124 off 64, her second T20I hundred.Her dismissal came at the end of the innings after a mix-up with Bharti Fulmali, but by then Mandhana had rewritten the record books.The 124 also became the highest individual score in Women’s Asia Cup T20 history, surpassing Chamari Athapaththa’s unbeaten 119 against Malaysia in 2024.
Most runs in women’s international cricket
- 10880* – Smriti Mandhana
- 10868 – Mithali Raj
- 10740 – Suzie Bates
- 10273 – Charlotte Edwards
- 10007 – Stephanie Taylor
From Mithali’s record to heaps of milestones
Mandhana’s landmark innings did not stop at the all-time record.Her hundred took her international hundred to 18, making her the leading century maker in women’s international cricket, ahead of Australia’s Meg Lanning and South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt, who each had 17.She also became the first Indian woman to score two T20I centuries. Her previous hundred came against England in 2025 when she made 112.The last innings also extended Mandhana and Shafali’s remarkable partnership record. Their 50-plus against Hong Kong was their 29th in T20Is, the most by any pair in the format.READ ALSO: Smriti Mandhana equals Mithali Raj’s big record and creates another historyHowever, the most significant achievement for Mandhana was undoubtedly crossing Mithali.Mithali’s 10,868 runs have been the benchmark of women’s international batting excellence since her retirement in 2022. Mandhana’s explosive rise has now surpassed her, with New Zealand’s Suzie Bates, England’s Charlotte Edwards and West Indies great Stafanie Taylor completing the top five on the all-time list.What made Thursday’s achievement even more remarkable was the manner in which Mandhana achieved it. On a surface that offered little pace, she adapted her game, using her back foot effectively and finding ways to create boundaries.“Having said that, I love batting and I’m glad I could contribute,” Mandhana said during the mid-innings break.