India’s women’s cricket team vice‑ captain, Smriti Mandhana, created history on Sunday in the first Women’s T20 International against Sri Lanka in Visakhapatnam. She became the first Indian woman and only the second woman globally to score 4,000 runs in Women’s T20 Internationals, joining an elite list of players in the format.
Mandhana reached the landmark while chasing a modest total of 122, scoring 25 runs before being dismissed. In doing so, she also set a new record for being the fastest player in terms of balls faced to reach 4,000 T20I runs, achieving the milestone off just 3,227 deliveries. She surpassed New Zealand’s Suzie Bates, who took 3,675 balls to reach the same milestone, underlining Mandhana’s consistency and attacking style in the shortest format.
India dominated the game, with Jemimah Rodrigues scoring an unbeaten 69, guiding her team to a comfortable eight‑wicket victory. The win gave India a 1–0 lead in the ongoing T20I series against Sri Lanka. Mandhana’s achievement came in front of an enthusiastic home crowd, who celebrated the historic moment as a significant milestone for Indian women’s cricket.
Mandhana’s rise in T20I cricket has been marked by her elegant strokeplay, quick scoring, and ability to anchor innings under pressure. She has consistently been a vital part of India’s batting lineup across all formats, and this landmark only cements her status as one of the leading figures in women’s cricket globally.
Beyond individual records, Mandhana’s feat also represents the growing stature of Indian women’s cricket on the world stage. Her achievement is likely to inspire a new generation of cricketers in India, emphasizing that dedication, skill, and perseverance can lead to historic milestones.
With the 1–0 series lead, India will aim to continue its strong performance in the remaining T20Is, while Mandhana looks forward to adding many more runs to her illustrious career tally and contributing further to the team’s success in international cricket.
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