NEW DELHI: Smriti Mandhana has already established herself among the finest batters in women's cricket, but on Thursday she reached a new pinnacle — becoming the most prolific run-scorer in the history of the women's game.During India's Women's Asia Cup 2026 clash against Hong Kong China in Dubai, the Indian vice-captain surpassed legendary former captain Mithali Raj's tally of 10,868 international runs to become the highest run-scorer in women's international cricket across all formats.And she did it in spectacular fashion.Mandhana produced a breathtaking 124 off 64 balls, smashing 14 fours and seven sixes at a strike rate of 193.75 as India posted 193/5 after being asked to bat first. Her record-breaking innings not only took her past Mithali but also established a series of new milestones.
Mandhana entered the match knowing she was closing in on Mithali's long-standing record. Having already overtaken New Zealand great Suzie Bates to move into second place during the Asia Cup opener against Thailand, the 30-year-old needed one more major push to rewrite the all-time record.She delivered far more than that.
Mandhana initially had to negotiate a slow Dubai surface and disciplined Hong Kong bowling. Shafali Verma provided the early acceleration, with the opening pair putting on 50 before Verma departed for 28 off 17 balls.Once Mandhana settled in, however, the innings changed gears.She reached her half-century and then launched an extraordinary assault, moving from 50 to 100 in just 17 deliveries. Her century came off 57 balls before she eventually finished with 124 from 64, her second T20I hundred.Her dismissal came on the final over of the innings following a mix-up with Bharti Fulmali, but by then Mandhana had already rewritten the record books.The 124 also became the highest individual score in Women's T20 Asia Cup history, surpassing Chamari Athapaththu's unbeaten 119 against Malaysia in 2024.
Mandhana's landmark innings did not stop with the all-time runs record.Her century took her international hundred tally to 18, making her the leading century-maker in women's international cricket, ahead of Australia's Meg Lanning and South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt, who had 17 each.She also became the first Indian woman to score two T20I centuries. Her previous hundred had come against England in 2025, when she made 112.The latest innings also extended Mandhana and Shafali's remarkable partnership record. Their 50-plus stand against Hong Kong was their 29th in T20Is, the most by any pair in the format.ALSO READ: Smriti Mandhana equals Mithali Raj's big record, then creates more historyFor Mandhana, though, the most significant achievement was undoubtedly moving past Mithali.Mithali's 10,868 runs had stood as the benchmark of women's international batting excellence since her retirement in 2022. Mandhana's explosive rise has now taken her beyond that mark, with New Zealand's Suzie Bates, England's Charlotte Edwards and West Indies great Stafanie Taylor completing the top five on the all-time list.What made Thursday's achievement even more remarkable was the manner in which Mandhana reached it. On a surface that offered little pace, she adapted her game, used the back foot effectively and found ways to manufacture boundaries."Having said that, I just love batting, and I'm happy that I could contribute," Mandhana said during the mid-innings break.
