NEW DELHI: Indian women’s cricket team vice-captain Smriti Mandhana delivered a record-breaking performance in the series-deciding third T20I against the West Indies on Thursday, cementing her status as one of the greatest batters in the shortest format. Her explosive knock of 77 runs, combined with Richa Ghosh‘s whirlwind fifty, propelled India to their highest-ever T20I total of 217/4.
Mandhana’s innings was a masterclass in consistency and aggression. With this knock, she achieved multiple milestones, most notably breaking Suzie Bates’ world record for the most 50+ scores in women’s T20Is.
Mandhana now has 30 such scores in 148 matches, surpassing the New Zealand legend’s 29 in 171 appearances. She also overtook Bates’ long-standing record for the most fours in women’s T20Is, taking her tally to 506 boundaries.
Adding to her growing list of achievements, Mandhana also claimed the record for the most runs in a bilateral T20I series for India, amassing 193 runs in the three-match contest against the West Indies. This surpasses Mithali Raj’s 192 runs scored in a five-match series against South Africa in 2018.
Mandhana’s performance this year has been nothing short of extraordinary. With 763 runs in 23 matches, she now holds the record for the most T20I runs in a calendar year, overtaking Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu, who has 720 runs in 2024.
While Mandhana’s brilliance laid the foundation, Richa Ghosh added the finishing touches with a stunning 54 off 21 balls, equaling the world record for the fastest fifty in women’s T20Is.
India’s dominant performance, highlighted by these incredible individual feats, not only sealed the series but also showcased the formidable depth and talent in the squad.
