New Delhi: Cricket records rarely arrive with a big announcement. The greatest milestones in the sport often happen in the middle of an ordinary delivery, in the first few overs of a match that has only just begun. That is exactly how it happened for Smriti Mandhana. A single on a Sune Luus delivery.
Early in the first T20I against South Africa Women, and just like that, a record that had stood in the name of Rohit Sharma — one of the most celebrated batters in the history of Indian men’s cricket — belonged to her now.
The moment that changed the record books
The first T20I of India Women’s five-match series against South Africa was being played at Kingsmead in Durban. South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl.
Mandhana walked out to open alongside Shafali Verma, as she has done countless times before. However, on this occasion, there was something historic in the air. Then, on the second ball of the first over, she nudged a simple single — one that barely registered on the scoreboard.
Yet, in that quiet moment, she moved past Rohit Sharma’s all-time tally of 4,231 runs for India in T20 Internationals. Thus, with almost no fanfare, Smriti Mandhana etched her name into the record books.
What she scored on the day
The record may have arrived; however, the innings itself was concise. While the moment was historic, Mandhana managed just 13 runs off 14 balls, including one six, before being caught by Laura Wolvaardt off the bowling of Ayabonga Khaka. Although it was not the kind of knock that wins matches, it was, nonetheless, enough to secure a place in history.
Meanwhile, India were eventually bowled out for 157/7. In response, South Africa chased the target down comfortably, finishing with six wickets to spare in 19.1 overs. Thus, the hosts claimed the match; however, the headlines, unavoidably, belonged to the one who scored 13.
Smriti Mandhana vs Rohit Sharma
| Statistic | Smriti Mandhana (India Women) | Rohit Sharma (India Men) |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Opener | Opener |
| Matches | 161 | 159 |
| Innings | 155 | 151 |
| Runs | 4,244 | 4,231 |
| Average | 30.53 | 32.05 |
| Strike Rate | 124.4 | 140.89 |
| Centuries | 1 | 5 |
| Half-centuries | 33 | 32 |
| Highest Score | 112 | 121* |
| Status | Active | Retired (T20Is, 2024) |
Smriti Mandhana now sits second on the all-time women’s T20I run-scoring list globally, behind only New Zealand’s Suzie Bates who has accumulated around 4,717 runs. She has also climbed into the top three in the combined men’s and women’s all-time T20I charts
Debut till now for Smriti Mandhana
Mandhana made her T20I debut in 2013 as a teenager. She is now 29. The thirteen years in between have been a masterclass in how to build a career: consistent, elegant, endlessly adaptable, and always improving at exactly the moments when critics started to wonder if she might be plateauing.
- Most half-centuries – More T20I fifties than any other Indian batter, man or woman.
- Global top three – Among the top run-scorers in T20I history when men’s and women’s lists are combined.
- Consistent across formats – Over 10,000 international runs in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is combined.
- Leadership – Has served as vice-captain and captain, shaping the next generation of Indian women’s cricket.
Breaking Records of Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma, famously known as “Hitman,” redefined aggressive opening batsmanship in T20 cricket for India. He led his IPL franchise to three titles and lifted a T20 World Cup, while also building one of the most formidable T20I records in Indian cricket.
Smriti Mandhana surpassing him does not diminish his legacy. He stepped away from T20Is after the 2024 World Cup triumph, and fans will always regard him as one of India’s finest. It is, rather, a statement about how far women’s cricket has come.
Records are wonderful, but Mandhana has never been someone who chases them. She is someone who bats — seriously, passionately, with a level of craft that makes even defensive shots worth watching. The record followed the runs. The runs followed the batting.
