Smriti Mandhana shatters 28‑year ODI run record at 2025 World Cup

When Smriti Mandhana, vice‑captain of the Indian women's cricket team walked out to face the first ball at the ACA‑VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, she already had a historic tally humming in her ears. By the end of that third‑group match against South Africa, she had nudged her 2025 calendar‑year total to 982 runs in 17 Women’s ODIs – a fresh world record that eclipsed the 28‑year‑old mark set by Belinda Clark in 1997. The run‑fest unfolded under the banner of the 2025 Women’s Cricket World CupIndia, a tournament that has already turned the sub‑continent into a cricket pilgrimage.

Record‑breaking run tally in a calendar year

Mandhana’s 982 runs came at an eye‑popping average of 57.76, with four centuries packed into the haul. Those numbers not only outstrip Clark’s 970‑run benchmark but also set a new pace for any batter in the women's game. At the moment, she has at least five matches left in the World Cup, meaning the coveted 1,000‑run milestone is within arm’s reach – a feat no woman has ever achieved in a single calendar year.

Here’s the thing: the run count includes a quick‑fire 23‑run cameo off 32 balls in the South Africa game, a modest knock that nonetheless pushed the total over the line. Earlier in the tournament, Mandhana hammered a mammoth 340‑for‑3 against New Zealand in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra. That innings not only set a new Indian World Cup high of 340 but also lifted the team’s total to the second‑highest ever posted against the Kiwis in women’s ODIs.

Earlier World Cup milestones

During that New Zealand clash, Mandhana notched her 14th ODI century, pulling her level with Australian great Meg Lanning for the most ODI centuries by a woman. The knock also took her to 17 international centuries across formats, tying Lanning’s all‑time record. On the partnership front, she and opening partner Pratika Rawal piled on a 212‑run stand – the highest opening partnership for India at a Women’s World Cup and the fourth 150‑plus partnership in her ODI career.

That 212‑run opening stand eclipsed the previous India record of 184 runs between Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur against the West Indies in 2022. It also put Mandhana‑Rawal among a tiny elite: only three other pairs globally have posted two 200‑plus stands, and none of those were Indian duos.

Partnership with Pratika Rawal

Rawal herself is on a tear. In the same New Zealand game she crossed the 1,000‑run barrier in just 23 innings – matching the rapid rise of Australian legend Lindsay Reeler from 1988. The duo’s chemistry has become a talking point across coaching circles; their fourth 150‑plus partnership this tournament has sparked debates about whether India now has the most lethal opening pair in women’s cricket.

"When you walk out with Pratika, you feel a certain confidence that the rest of the innings will fall into place," Mandhana said in a post‑match interview. "We’ve built this partnership on trust, and the numbers are finally backing that up."

Reactions from officials and teammates

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) issued a statement lauding Mandhana’s achievement, calling it "a watershed moment for women's cricket in the country." The International Cricket Council (ICC) echoed the sentiment, noting that "Mandhana’s run‑scoring surge adds fresh excitement to the women's game and raises the bar for future generations."

Teammates were equally effusive. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur said, "Smriti’s consistency gives us the belief that we can chase any total. Her record is not just personal; it lifts the entire side."

What the numbers mean for women’s cricket

Statistically, Mandhana’s 5,194 runs as an opener now tops New Zealand’s Suzie Bates’s 5,088‑run tally, making her the most prolific opening batter in women’s ODI history. That milestone, paired with her impending 1,000‑run calendar year, could spur a surge in grassroots participation across India, especially among girls in Tier‑2 cities who see a clear pathway to international glory.

Analysts also point out the commercial upside. With the Women’s Premier League (WPL) now in its second season, Mandhana’s record‑breaking form raises her marketability. She currently stars for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and has become a prime candidate for brand endorsements ranging from sports apparel to financial services.

Looking ahead: the chase for 1,000 runs

India still has five group‑stage matches left, followed by a potential semi‑final and final. If Mandhana continues her current strike rate, the 1,000‑run mark could be broken as early as the semi‑final, rewriting the record books yet again. Even if the target slips just past the tournament, the legacy of a calendar‑year run tally that eclipses the men’s record set by Virat Kohli in 2017 (counting 1,001 runs in 20 ODIs) will remain a landmark.

"We’re not thinking about the numbers," Rawal laughed after practice. "We’re just focusing on each ball, each partnership. If the record comes along, it’s a bonus."

Key Facts

• New ODI calendar‑year record: 982 runs in 17 innings (avg 57.76)
• Previous record holder: Belinda Clark (970 runs in 1997)
• Highest opening partnership for India at a World Cup: 212 runs with Pratika Rawal
• Most ODI runs by an opener in women’s cricket: 5,194 runs (surpassing Suzie Bates)
• Potential to become first woman to score 1,000 ODI runs in a single year