Visakhapatnam, October 10 (Shahi)
India’s star opener Smriti Mandhana etched her name in history by breaking the record for the most runs scored in a calendar year in women’s ODI cricket during India’s match against South Africa at the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 in Visakhapatnam on Thursday. The left-hander surpassed Australia’s Belinda Clark’s 1997 record of 970 runs, reaching a remarkable 982 runs in 17 innings in 2025, with an average of 57.76 and a strike rate of 112.22.
Record-Breaking Performance
In the match against South Africa, Mandhana scored 23 off 32 balls, contributing to a 55-run opening stand with Pratika Rawal. Despite India’s three-wicket loss, her knock pushed her past Clark’s longstanding record. Mandhana now stands just 18 runs shy of becoming the first woman to score 1,000 ODI runs in a single calendar year.
Top Run-Scorers in a Calendar Year (Women’s ODIs)
|
Player |
Innings |
Runs |
Year |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Smriti Mandhana (India) |
17* | 982 | 2025 |
|
Belinda Clark (Australia) |
14 | 970 | 1997 |
|
Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa) |
18 | 882 | 2022 |
|
Debbie Hockley (New Zealand) |
16 | 880 | 1997 |
|
Amy Satterthwaite (New Zealand) |
14 | 853 | 2016 |
|
*Ongoing year |
Mandhana’s Stellar 2025
At 29, Mandhana has been in scintillating form, scoring four centuries and three fifties in 2025. Her highlights include a blistering 100 off 50 balls—the second-fastest century in women’s ODIs, trailing only Meg Lanning’s 45-ball ton against New Zealand in 2012. Her four centuries this year tie her for the second-most in a calendar year, behind South Africa’s Tazmin Brits (five in 2025). Notably, Mandhana also hit four centuries in 2024, a record at the time until Brits surpassed it.
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Career Milestones
Mandhana’s career tally stands at 4,942 runs in 111 ODIs, making her the fifth-highest run-scorer in women’s ODI history. Her 13 centuries are the most by any opener and second only to Meg Lanning (15) overall. She also led India’s run-scoring charts in 2024 with 747 runs in 13 innings (average 57.46, strike rate 95.15), surpassing teammate Deepti Sharma’s previous Indian record of 787 runs in 2017.
Impact on India’s World Cup Campaign
Despite the record, India’s loss to South Africa (their first in the tournament) has dented their semi-final hopes. With a 2-1 record, India face four more league matches to secure a knockout berth. Mandhana’s form remains crucial as she aims to breach the 1,000-run mark and lead India deeper into the tournament.
