Smriti Mandhana Rewrites Women's Cricket Record Book With Asia Cup Century

What happened

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Smriti Mandhana moved to the top of two of women's cricket's most important all-format lists during India's Women's Asia Cup victory over Hong Kong, China, in Dubai. The India opener scored 124 from 64 balls, her highest T20 international score, as India made 193 for five and completed a 137-run win. The ICC reported that Mandhana finished the match with 10,880 international runs, passing former India captain Mithali Raj's career total of 10,868.

Mandhana's innings contained 14 fours and seven sixes. She and Shafali Verma put on 74 from 47 balls for the opening wicket before Verma departed for 28. With the rest of India's batting order unable to build a substantial innings, Mandhana carried the scoring burden and accelerated decisively. According to the ICC, she passed Raj's aggregate in the 18th over by striking three consecutive sixes.

The century was Mandhana's second in T20 internationals and her 18th hundred across international formats. That took her beyond former Australia captain Meg Lanning for the most centuries in women's international cricket. Mandhana, who made her India debut in 2013, also became the first Indian woman to register multiple T20I hundreds after reaching her maiden century in the format against England in 2025.

India's bowlers ensured the record innings translated into a comfortable tournament result. Deepti Sharma led the attack with three wickets for nine runs, while Nandani Sharma, Prema Rawat and Shree Charani took two wickets apiece. Hong Kong, China, never established the pace required in a chase of 194, and India's second consecutive win left the team on top of Group A.

Why it matters

The records connect two eras of elite women's batting. Raj set the standard for longevity and accumulation during a 23-year international career, while Lanning became the benchmark for converting starts into centuries. Mandhana has now passed both at age 30, combining sustained output across formats with an increasingly aggressive approach in T20 cricket. Her 124 was not simply a statistical milestone: it supplied most of India's total on a surface captain Harmanpreet Kaur had described as tricky.

Mandhana said after the match that she did not know the exact record while batting. In comments carried by the ICC, she described Raj and Lanning as players she grew up watching and learning from. Raj also publicly congratulated her successor, calling the achievement a proud moment and backing her to add many more runs.

Tournament impact

India's place at the head of Group A strengthens its route through the Asia Cup, but the scorecard also leaves a clear question for the title contenders. Beyond Mandhana and Verma, no India batter made more than 11, and the ICC noted that the middle order had also suffered a major collapse in the team's opening match. Against stronger bowling attacks, India may not be able to rely on one historic innings to control a game.

What to watch

India next faces Pakistan on Saturday in a higher-pressure group match. Mandhana arrives with form and two fresh world records, while India's middle order has another opportunity to find rhythm before the knockout stage. The immediate challenge is to turn an individual landmark and two group wins into the balanced batting performance required for the tougher contests ahead.