Smriti Mandhana has etched her name in the annals of women's cricket by becoming the all‑time leading run‑scorer for India across international formats, a feat she secured with a spectacular century during the Women's Asia Cup. In the second Group A encounter, Mandhana unleashed a blistering 124 runs off just 64 balls, propelling India to a commanding 193‑5 in their allotted 20 overs. The massive total set the stage for a dominant bowling display that saw Hong Kong dismissed for a meagre 56, handing India a 137‑run victory. The innings was not only a match‑winning performance but also a historic milestone.
With the 124 runs added to her tally, Mandhana's aggregate across Tests, One‑Day Internationals and Twenty‑20 Internationals climbed to 10,880, eclipsing the previous record held by former captain Mithali Raj. In doing so, she claimed the title of the highest run‑getter in women's international cricket, a record that had stood for years and was a benchmark for aspiring batters.
Mandhana's century was a masterclass in modern limited‑overs batting. She struck 14 boundaries and six sixes, showcasing a blend of power and precision that left the Hong Kong bowlers grasping for answers. This knock marked her 18th international century across formats, a tally that also allowed her to overtake former Australian skipper Meg Lanning for the most centuries in women's international cricket.
The achievement underscored her consistency and adaptability, as she has now amassed centuries in both the longest and shortest forms of the game. In the post‑match press conference, an elated Mandhana admitted that she was unaware of the record she was breaking until after the innings. "Until I was batting, I didn't know what record I had broken because I didn't know the exact runs I had made," she said. Reflecting on the significance of the day, she added, "It was a very good day for Indian cricket.
Of course, Mithali has been such a legend and a role model. We've all grown up watching her bat, so to surpass her in the run tally is something I never imagined." She also paid tribute to the two icons whose careers she has followed closely: Meg Lanning and Mithali Raj.
"Two of the legends of the game—Meg Lanning and Mithali Raj—these are the people I've grown up watching. I've tried to take a lot of things from them as batters, so I'm really happy that I could go past them in whatever ways," Mandhana said, highlighting the personal significance of her achievement. Mandhana's journey to this pinnacle began with her debut for the national side in 2013. Over the years, she has evolved into a cornerstone of India's batting line‑up, known for her elegant stroke play and aggressive intent.
Last year, she made history again by becoming the first Indian woman to score a T20 International century, a landmark that demonstrated her ability to dominate across all formats. Her 124‑run blast at the Asia Cup further cemented her status as a trailblazer, as she became the first Indian batter—male or female—to register a century in each format of the game. Mithali Raj, who held the previous run record with 10,868 runs, responded to the news on social media with heartfelt congratulations. "Well deserved, @mandhana_smriti.
I've watched you grow from a young player into one of the finest batters India has produced. To see you go past my record and become the highest run‑scorer in international cricket is a moment I'm genuinely proud of. Here's to many more runs and milestones.
Keep going!" she wrote, expressing both pride and encouragement for her successor. At 30 years old, Mandhana is poised to continue her prolific run‑scoring spree.
The Asia Cup schedule still offers her the chance to cross the 11,000‑run threshold, with India's next match against Pakistan slated for Saturday. Should she achieve that landmark, it would further underline her dominance and longevity in the sport. Beyond the numbers, Mandhana's achievement carries broader implications for women's cricket in India and worldwide. Her record‑breaking performance shines a spotlight on the growing competitiveness and skill level in the women's game, inspiring a new generation of young cricketers to pursue the sport with ambition.
It also underscores the importance of providing platforms such as the Asia Cup, where talent can flourish and historic moments can be created. In summary, Smriti Mandhana's 124‑run onslaught not only secured a decisive victory for India over Hong Kong but also rewrote the record books.
By surpassing both Mithali Raj and Meg Lanning, she has set a new benchmark for run accumulation and centuries in women's international cricket. As she looks ahead to the upcoming fixtures, fans and fellow players alike will be watching to see how many more milestones she can achieve, further solidifying her legacy as one of the game's greats.