Indian cricket star Smriti Mandhana has etched her name into the history books by breaking the record for the most runs scored in a single calendar year in women's One-Day International cricket. The record-breaking moment came during the ICC Women's World Cup 2025 match against South Africa at Visakhapatnam, where Mandhana hit a six to surpass Australian Belinda Clark's 970 runs set in 1997.
Mandhana's remarkable aggregate of 982 runs in 17 ODIs this year highlights her incredible consistency and dominance in the format. Featuring four centuries and three fifties, the 29-year-old left-handed opener is playing some of the best cricket of her career. Though she started the World Cup with relatively low scores of 8 and 23 in her first two matches, her overall form this year has been sensational.
Mandhana is also closing in on the milestone of 5,000 ODI runs, a prestigious landmark that would make her only the second Indian woman to join this elite club after Mithali Raj. With just 81 runs needed, this achievement seems well within reach given her current form and the remaining fixtures in the World Cup.
India entered the South Africa game undefeated, and Mandhana's record-breaking innings laid the foundation for a strong team performance, further fueling hopes of India clinching their first senior ICC Women's World Cup title. The Indian team continues to be a formidable force this tournament, with Mandhana leading the charge.
Mandhana’s achievement represents a historic moment in women’s cricket, surpassing a 28-year record held by a pioneering figure in Australian cricket, and further establishing her as a leading figure in Indian and global women’s cricket. With a few more matches remaining in the calendar year, she also has the opportunity to become the first woman to score over 1,000 ODI runs in a single year.
The cricketing world is watching keenly as Mandhana not only raises the bar for women's cricket in India but also sets new global standards. Her journey this year has been a testament to skill, perseverance, and ability to perform consistently under pressure. Fans and critics alike eagerly await her upcoming matches, where she could become the first woman to tally over 1,000 ODI runs in a calendar year, marking an unprecedented achievement in cricket history.