Smriti Mandhana Rewrites History Books
Smriti Mandhana has done it again — and this time, it’s nothing short of historic.
During India’s World Cup clash against Australia in Visakhapatnam, the elegant left-hander became the first-ever player in women’s cricket history to score 1,000 ODI runs in a single calendar year.
It happened in the eighth over of the innings when Mandhana danced down the track and lofted Sophie Molineux for a six straight over long-on. That shot didn’t just clear the boundary — it cleared a milestone no one had reached before.
A Year to Remember for the Indian Vice-Captain
The year 2025 already looked golden for Mandhana, but this milestone just made it unforgettable. She broke the long-standing record of Belinda Clark’s 970 runs set way back in 1997, crossing it during India’s earlier match against South Africa.
Against Australia, Mandhana went on to score a fluent 80 off 66 balls, peppered with nine boundaries and three sixes — a perfect display of controlled aggression.
She also crossed the 5,000-run mark in women’s ODIs, becoming the youngest and quickest to do so, proving once again why she’s the backbone of Indian cricket’s batting lineup.
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A Season of Consistency
In 2025, Mandhana’s bat has been on fire — four centuries and four half-centuries already. Despite a quiet start to the World Cup, with scores of 8, 23, and 23, she roared back into form right when India needed her most.
She now stands as the fifth-highest run-scorer in women’s ODIs, behind legends like Mithali Raj and Charlotte Edwards. She’s also tied with Suzie Bates for the second-most centuries in the format.
Breaking Records Like Never Before
Just last month, Mandhana smashed the fastest ODI century by any Indian — male or female — reaching the ton off just 50 balls against Australia, surpassing even Virat Kohli’s 52-ball record.
That innings was a statement. This milestone is her legacy.
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Toss Recap: Australia Opted to Bowl First
At the ACA-VDCA Stadium, Australian skipper Alyssa Healy won the toss and chose to bowl first. The Aussies made one change, bringing in Sophie Molineux for Georgia Wareham, while India stuck with their winning XI.
India came into the match looking to bounce back after a narrow loss to South Africa, while Australia remain unbeaten so far — their only hiccup being a rain-abandoned game against Sri Lanka.
What’s Next for Mandhana and Team India
With this milestone under her belt, all eyes will be on Mandhana as India aims to regain momentum in the tournament. Her performance against Australia could very well be the turning point for India’s campaign in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.
It’s safe to say Smriti Mandhana isn’t just rewriting cricket records — she’s inspiring a generation of young cricketers to dream bigger.
