Smriti Mandhana scripted history on Sunday, December 28, by becoming the fastest woman to score 10,000 runs in international cricket.
The Indian opener achieved the milestone during the fourth T20I against Sri Lanka at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, further cementing her place among the legends of women’s cricket.
Mandhana is now the fourth woman overall and second Indian player to cross the 10,000-run mark in women’s internationals. She joins an elite list featuring former India captain Mithali Raj, New Zealand great Suzie Bates, and England legend Charlotte Edwards.
While Mithali Raj leads the chart with 10,868 runs, Bates and Edwards have accumulated 10,652 and 10,273 runs, respectively.
What makes Mandhana’s achievement even more special is the speed at which she reached the landmark. The left-hander got to 10,000 international runs in just 281 innings across formats, making her the fastest woman to do so.
In comparison, Mithali Raj took 291 innings, while Edwards and Bates needed 308 and 314 innings, respectively, to reach the milestone.
Mandhana entered the fourth T20I just 27 runs short of the landmark and got there in style. She reached the milestone by driving left-arm spinner Nimasha Meepage down to long-on for a single. Mandhana went on to play a brilliant knock of 80 runs off 48 balls, showcasing her trademark elegance and attacking intent.
Her innings was laced with three sixes and several crisp boundaries, as she anchored India’s innings from the top. Mandhana was also involved in a record-breaking 162-run opening partnership with Shafali Verma, the highest partnership for India for any wicket in women’s T20Is.
The previous Indian record was 143 runs, set by the same duo against the West Indies in 2019.
Shafali Verma played a vital supporting role, scoring 79 runs off 46 balls with 12 fours and one six. Together, Mandhana and Verma also became the first pair to score 3,000 runs together in women’s T20Is, adding another milestone to an already memorable match.
India posted their highest-ever total in women’s T20Is, scoring 221/2 against Sri Lanka. Their previous best was 217/4, achieved against the West Indies earlier in 2024.
Riding on this dominant performance, India defeated Sri Lanka by 30 runs and secured an unassailable 4-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.
Mandhana’s heroics did not end there. With her three sixes in the match, she surpassed Harmanpreet Kaur to become India’s leading six-hitter in women’s T20Is, now boasting 80 maximums to her name. For her outstanding performance, Mandhana was deservedly named Player of the Match.
The fifth and final T20I of the series will be played at the same venue on December 30, with India aiming to complete a clean sweep. With records tumbling and milestones achieved, Smriti Mandhana’s 10,000-run feat stands as a testament to her consistency, class, and impact on women’s international cricket.
