Smriti Mandhana tops T20I run-scorers list across men's and women's cricket
Synopsis
Smriti Mandhana has done what no batter in cricket history has managed: she now leads the all-time T20I run-scorers' list across both men's and women's cricket, with 4,788 runs. The milestone, reached during India's Asian Games semifinal in Nisshin, caps a historic run of record-breaking that also includes surpassing Mithali Raj in all-format women's cricket and briefly holding the most international centuries record.
Key Takeaways
Smriti Mandhana became the all-time leading T20I run-scorer across men's and women's cricket on 20 September 2026 , reaching 4,788 runs in 171 innings .
She surpassed former New Zealand batter Suzie Bates (4,758 runs) during India's Asian Games semifinal against Bangladesh Women at the Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin .
Both Mandhana and Bates stand above Pakistan 's Babar Azam (4,596 runs), the highest-placed men's batter on the list.
Earlier this year, Mandhana also broke Mithali Raj 's record to become the highest run-scorer in women's international cricket across all formats, with 124 against Hong Kong in the Asia Cup.
India Women are defending their 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games gold medal and had beaten hosts Japan in the quarterfinal.
India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana scripted history on Sunday, 20 September 2026, becoming the highest run-scorer in T20 International cricket across both men's and women's formats — a distinction no batter, male or female, has ever held before her.
The Record-Breaking Moment
Mandhana reached the milestone during India's Asian Games semifinal against Bangladesh Women at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, playing a punchy cameo of 37 off 19 balls. She surpassed former New Zealand batter Suzie Bates, who previously held the top spot, to take her career T20I tally to 4,788 runs in 171 innings.
Mandhana had entered the match needing just eight runs — she had accumulated 4,751 runs in 170 innings coming in — and wasted little time, stroking a couple of fours and two singles in her first seven deliveries to clear the landmark.
Where the Top Five Stand
The all-format T20I run-scorers' list now reads:
1. Smriti Mandhana — 4,788 runs
2. Suzie Bates — 4,758 runs
3. Babar Azam — 4,596 runs
4. Jos Buttler — 4,292 runs
5. Harmanpreet Kaur — 4,287 runs
Notably, both Mandhana and Bates had already surpassed Pakistan's Babar Azam — the leading run-scorer among men — and Sunday's knock extended that gap further, cementing women's cricket's dominance at the very top of the all-time T20I run-chart.
A Season of Record-Breaking
The Asian Games milestone is the latest in a remarkable streak of records for the 24-year-old left-hander. During the recent Asia Cup, Mandhana surpassed legendary former India captain Mithali Raj's tally of 10,868 runs to become the highest run-scorer in women's international cricket across all formats, achieving the feat with a century of 124 against Hong Kong.
That innings was also her 18th international hundred, briefly making her the outright record-holder for most centuries in women's international cricket — a mark previously held by Australia's Meg Lanning. The century record has since been equalled by South Africa Women's captain Laura Wolvaardt.
India's Asian Games Campaign
On the field, India Women opted to bat first against Bangladesh Women in the semifinal, looking to advance to the gold medal match. The side is bidding to defend their gold medal won at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games and had earlier dispatched hosts Japan in the quarterfinal. The result of the semifinal was not immediately available at the time of this report.
Why This Record Matters
The milestone signals a structural shift in global T20 cricket: women's players now occupy the top two spots on the all-time run-scorers' list because they have played more T20 internationals over longer careers, a reflection of the format's rapid growth in the women's game. For India, Mandhana's consistency at the top of the order has been the foundation of their batting across all three formats. This is the kind of cross-format recognition that elevates the profile of women's cricket in a country where men's cricket still commands the lion's share of attention.
Point of View
Which is precisely what men's cricket administrators have historically resisted. The more meaningful question is whether India's cricket ecosystem — still overwhelmingly male in its commercial weight — will use moments like this to build sustained visibility and infrastructure for women's cricket, or treat it as a feel-good footnote. Mandhana cannot carry the argument alone.
NationPress
20 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What record did Smriti Mandhana break on 20 September 2026?
Smriti Mandhana became the highest run-scorer in T20 International cricket across both men's and women's formats, reaching 4,788 runs in 171 innings. She surpassed New Zealand's Suzie Bates, who previously held the record with 4,758 runs.
Where did Smriti Mandhana achieve this T20I milestone?
The record was set during India Women's Asian Games semifinal against Bangladesh Women at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan, on 20 September 2026. Mandhana scored 37 off 19 balls in that innings.
Who is the leading male T20I run-scorer and how does he compare?
Pakistan's Babar Azam leads among men with 4,596 runs, but he sits third on the combined men's and women's list, behind both Mandhana (4,788) and Suzie Bates (4,758). The gap between Mandhana and Babar Azam now stands at 192 runs.
What other records has Smriti Mandhana broken recently?
Mandhana earlier surpassed Mithali Raj's tally of 10,868 runs to become the highest run-scorer in women's international cricket across all formats. She also scored her 18th international century against Hong Kong in the Asia Cup, briefly holding the record for most centuries in women's cricket before South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt equalled it.
What is India Women's goal at the 2026 Asian Games?
India Women are defending the gold medal they won at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. They defeated hosts Japan in the quarterfinal before facing Bangladesh Women in the semifinal on 20 September 2026.
