Smriti Mandhana lit up the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 on October 12 with a record-breaking masterclass against Australia, shattering two historic milestones in a single innings.
Entering the match on 982 runs for the year, the 29-year-old stylish opener needed just 18 more to become the first woman in ODI history to score 1,000 runs in a calendar year. She reached the mark in trademark fashion in the eighth over, dispatching spinner Sophie Molineux for a four, a towering six, and another crisp boundary, etching her name into cricket’s record books.
Mandhana’s dominance continued as she crossed 5,000 career runs in Women’s ODIs, a feat only five players have achieved globally. She is now just the second Indian woman, after Mithali Raj, to reach the milestone and the fastest to do so, smashing the record in only 112 innings, ahead of luminaries like Suzie Bates and Stafanie Taylor.
Her achievements underscore both her individual brilliance and the surging momentum of women’s cricket in India. Known for her grace under pressure and consistent run-making, Mandhana credited her success to disciplined focus, fitness, and team support. “Records are special,” she reflected, “but what matters most is contributing to the team’s success.”
With years of cricket still ahead, these twin milestones are less a capstone than another luminous chapter in Mandhana’s already remarkable journey.
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