Did Smriti Mandhana Just Become the Second Indian Woman to Cross 10,000 International Runs?
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Synopsis
In a remarkable achievement, Smriti Mandhana, India's vice-captain, has become only the second Indian woman to surpass 10,000 international runs in cricket, following Mithali Raj. This milestone highlights her incredible talent and potential to break further records in women's cricket.
Key Takeaways
- Smriti Mandhana is only the second Indian woman to surpass 10,000 international runs.
- She achieved this milestone in just 20 balls during a T20I match.
- Her career includes impressive statistics in Tests and ODIs.
- She will captain RCB in the upcoming Women’s Premier League.
- Mandhana’s achievement reflects the growth of women's cricket in India.
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 28 (NationPress) India’s vice-captain Smriti Mandhana made history on Sunday by becoming the second Indian woman cricketer, following her fellow countrywoman Mithali Raj, to surpass 10,000 runs in international cricket.
Mandhana, who marked her entry into the Indian team against Bangladesh in April 2013, required 27 runs ahead of the fourth T20I against Sri Lanka to achieve this remarkable feat. She accomplished it in a mere 20 balls at the Greenfield International Stadium, eventually scoring 80 runs off 48 deliveries – marking her 32nd fifty with 11 boundaries and 3 sixes at an impressive strike rate of 170.2.
In addition to Mithali, Smriti joins the ranks of Suzie Bates from New Zealand and former England player Charlotte Edwards, as the only other women to reach this significant milestone.
Mandhana has also accumulated 629 runs in 7 Tests and 5,322 runs across 117 ODIs. Mithali, the top run-scorer in women’s international cricket, retired with a total of 10,868 runs across all formats, setting a target that Smriti could potentially surpass.
Earlier in the series, while scoring a run-a-ball 25 in the T20I series opener against Sri Lanka at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, Smriti became the first Indian batter and the second overall after Suzie to reach 4,000 runs in Women’s T20Is.
The left-handed opener was also the second-highest run-scorer during India’s victorious Women’s ODI World Cup campaign, accumulating 434 runs in nine innings with an average of 54.25.
As the five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka wraps up on December 30, Smriti is set to lead the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL), commencing on January 9. RCB will kick off their campaign against the Mumbai Indians, captained by Harmanpreet Kaur, at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
Point of View
I believe Smriti Mandhana's achievement is a testament to the growing prominence of women's cricket in India. Her dedication and skill inspire future generations, and we should celebrate such milestones as pivotal moments for the sport.
NationPress
28/12/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Smriti Mandhana?
Smriti Mandhana is the vice-captain of the Indian women's cricket team, known for her exceptional batting skills.
What milestone did Smriti Mandhana achieve?
She became the second Indian woman to score over 10,000 runs in international cricket.
Who did she follow in achieving this milestone?
Smriti followed former captain Mithali Raj, who is the first Indian woman to reach this landmark.
What is Smriti's overall run tally in international matches?
As of now, Smriti has scored over 10,000 runs in various international formats.
What are her plans after the T20I series?
Smriti will captain the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the upcoming Women’s Premier League starting January 9.
