Mandhana's record 18th century: pre-match chat with Rodrigues revealed
Synopsis
Smriti Mandhana didn't just win a match — she rewrote the record books. Her 124 off 64 balls against Hong Kong made her women's cricket's most prolific century-scorer at 18 hundreds, leapfrogging both Meg Lanning and Mithali Raj in a single innings. A pre-match tease from injured teammate Jemimah Rodrigues, it turns out, may have been the spark.
Key Takeaways
Smriti Mandhana scored 124 off 64 balls against Hong Kong China at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 4 September 2026 .
The innings is her 18th international century , making her the leading century-scorer in women's international cricket, surpassing Meg Lanning .
She also overtook Mithali Raj as the all-time leading run-scorer in women's cricket.
India won by 137 runs and sealed their semi-final berth in the Women's Asia Cup 2026 .
Jemimah Rodrigues is absent from the tournament due to a hamstring injury sustained during The Hundred in England.
India face Pakistan in their final Group A match on Saturday .
Smriti Mandhana, India's vice-captain, blazed a record-breaking 124 off 64 balls against Hong Kong China at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 4 September 2026, powering India to a dominant 137-run victory in the Women's Asia Cup — and later revealed that a playful pre-match video call with injured teammate Jemimah Rodrigues had helped settle her nerves before the innings.
The pre-match call that set the tone
In a video released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on their social media channels, Mandhana was shown a supportive Instagram message posted by Rodrigues after the century. Mandhana recalled the conversation warmly. 'Oh Jemi! We miss Jemi for sure, unfortunate for her to pick up that injury. I remember I was on a video call yesterday and she actually wished me all the best,' Mandhana said.
Rodrigues had reportedly teased her ahead of the match: 'This is going to be an extremely tough match. Knowing me and my batting, she was like, I know it's going to be an extremely tough match, let's see how much runs you get,' Mandhana recounted with a laugh. The banter, she said, was typical of their bond — and today, she noted, the scorecard gave her full bragging rights.
A historic innings — records rewritten
The 124-run knock was no ordinary milestone. With it, Mandhana overtook Meg Lanning to become the leading century-maker in women's international cricket, now holding 18 international hundreds. The innings also saw her surpass Mithali Raj as the all-time leading run-scorer in women's cricket — a double-record day that underlines her status as the defining batter of her generation.
India's 137-run win also confirmed their place in the semi-finals of the continental tournament, extending the seven-time champions' stranglehold on the competition.
Rodrigues' absence — and the 'Wrong Sisters' bond
Rodrigues is sidelined for the tournament after picking up a hamstring injury while playing The Hundred in England. Her absence has been keenly felt, but the camaraderie between the two — affectionately dubbed the 'Wrong Sisters' by fans — has only grown more visible through social media exchanges during the event.
Mandhana acknowledged the nerves that came with facing unfamiliar opposition. 'I'm like, Yeah, I'm also very stressed and nervous because again like when you know the oppositions and the bowlers and when you don't know the bowlers, I mean it's sometimes like that uncertainty about what they are going to bowl at you,' she said. 'She was taking a case and today I think I can take her case but we all do miss her.'
What's next for India
With the semi-final berth secured, India's focus shifts immediately to their final Group A fixture — a high-stakes clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on Saturday. Mandhana, fresh off a Player of the Match performance, will be central to India's plans as they look to head into the knockouts on the strongest possible note.
Point of View
And her absence through injury is a genuine on-field cost, not just a PR gap. India's depth has covered it so far, but a semi-final against a stiffer opponent will test whether Mandhana can carry the batting load alone. The real question the record raises is structural — has women's cricket globally produced enough elite pace bowling to truly challenge Mandhana, or are some of these numbers partly a function of uneven competition?
NationPress
4 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many international centuries does Smriti Mandhana now have?
Smriti Mandhana now holds 18 international centuries , making her the leading century-scorer in women's international cricket. Her 124 against Hong Kong China on 4 September 2026 took her past Australia's Meg Lanning.
What records did Mandhana break against Hong Kong in the Women's Asia Cup 2026?
Mandhana broke two major records in a single innings: she surpassed Meg Lanning's tally to become the highest century-scorer in women's international cricket, and she overtook Mithali Raj as the all-time leading run-scorer in the women's game.
Why is Jemimah Rodrigues missing the Women's Asia Cup 2026?
Jemimah Rodrigues is sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained while playing The Hundred in England. She has been following India's campaign from outside the squad and posted a supportive message on Instagram after Mandhana's century.
What did Jemimah Rodrigues say to Mandhana before the Hong Kong match?
On a video call the evening before the match, Rodrigues playfully told Mandhana the fixture would be 'an extremely tough match' and challenged her to see how many runs she could score — a light-hearted tease that Mandhana said she can now fully turn back on her teammate.
What is India's next match in the Women's Asia Cup 2026?
India play Pakistan in their final Group A fixture on Saturday. Having already qualified for the semi-finals with the win over Hong Kong China, the match will determine India's seeding and momentum heading into the knockout rounds.
