In a historic moment for Indian cricket, Smriti Mandhana surpassed Belinda Clark’s 28-year-old record for the most runs in a calendar year in women’s One Day Internationals during India’s match against South Africa in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. Mandhana achieved this milestone with a six off Ayabonga Khaka’s delivery in the eighth over, propelling her total to 971 runs for the year.
The match, held at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, saw India elect to bat first after a brief rain delay. Mandhana, alongside opening partner Pratika Rawal, provided a solid start for the Indian team. Their partnership was briefly interrupted when Rawal was given a reprieve due to a missed LBW opportunity by South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp.
Mandhana’s departure for 23 runs did not deter India’s momentum. Pratika Rawal continued to anchor the innings, supported by Harleen Deol and Deepti Sharma, as India reached 59/1 in 11 overs. The team’s performance was bolstered by favorable batting conditions in Visakhapatnam, contrasting the challenging pitches encountered in previous matches.
As the match progresses, India remains in a strong position, with the middle order poised to capitalize on the solid foundation laid by the openers. The team’s focus is on building a substantial total to set a challenging target for South Africa.
This achievement by Smriti Mandhana not only highlights her exceptional skill and consistency but also underscores the growing prominence of women’s cricket on the global stage. As the tournament unfolds, all eyes will be on India to see if they can convert this strong performance into a victory and continue their pursuit of the Women’s World Cup title.
