In a remarkable display of batting prowess, Smriti Mandhana etched her name into the record books during the Women's Asia Cup 2026, leading India to a commanding victory over Hong Kong with a stunning 124 runs at the Dubai International Stadium. This innings not only showcased her exceptional talent but also marked a significant milestone in her illustrious career.
Mandhana's century was the 18th of her international career, surpassing the previous record held by former Australia captain Meg Lanning, who had 17 centuries to her name. With this achievement, Mandhana has become the outright leader for the most centuries in women's international cricket, further solidifying her status as one of the game's greats.
Teaming up with fellow opener Shafali Verma, Mandhana started aggressively, amassing 60 runs during the powerplay within the first six overs. However, Verma's dismissal for 28 put the onus on Mandhana to steer the innings. Despite a shaky middle order, where Pratika Rawal and Richa Ghosh managed only 10 and 11 runs respectively, Mandhana maintained her focus and continued to score freely.
Her innings was characterized by an explosive style, highlighted by three consecutive sixes off bowler Ruchitha Venkatesh. Mandhana's remarkable knock concluded when she was run out on the third delivery of the final over, finishing with an impressive 124 runs from just 64 balls. This performance propelled India to a formidable total of 193 runs, setting a challenging target for Hong Kong.
In addition to her personal achievements, Mandhana's score of 124 is now the highest individual score in the history of the Women's Asia Cup, surpassing the previous record of 119 not out set by Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu against Malaysia in 2024. Furthermore, this innings marked the highest score by any Indian batter in Women's T20 Internationals, making her the first Indian woman to score more than one century in this format.
After her record-breaking innings, Mandhana expressed humility regarding her achievements, admitting she was unaware of the records she had broken during the match. She acknowledged the efforts of Hong Kong's bowlers, praising their discipline and energy throughout the game. "I didn’t know all of this happened. It’s really hard for me to play slower bowlers, but credit to them. They were really disciplined in the powerplay. They bowled pretty well, and the kind of energy they showed was something we all can learn from. Having said that, I just love batting, and I’m happy that I could contribute," she stated post-match.
In terms of overall runs in women's international cricket, Mandhana has also surpassed the legendary Mithali Raj, becoming the highest run-scorer across all formats with a total of 10,880 runs in her 303rd international innings. This achievement places her ahead of Raj's 10,868 runs and New Zealand's Suzie Bates, who has 10,740 runs. The following are the top five run-scorers in women's international cricket:
1. Smriti Mandhana - 10,880 runs
2. Mithali Raj - 10,868 runs
3. Suzie Bates - 10,740 runs
4. Charlotte Edwards - 10,273 runs
5. Stafanie Taylor - 10,007 runs
With her remarkable performances in the Women's Asia Cup 2026, Smriti Mandhana continues to inspire a new generation of cricketers, demonstrating the heights that can be achieved through dedication and skill.
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