Mandhana’s Historic Achievement
Indian opening batter Smriti Mandhana made history on Thursday, becoming the highest run-scorer in women’s One Day Internationals in a single calendar year. She achieved this monumental feat during India’s ICC Women’s World Cup match against South Africa in Visakhapatnam.
Mandhana spectacularly broke Belinda Clark’s 28-year-old record by striking a six off Ayabonga Khaka in the eighth over of the innings. Clark, an Australian legend, had previously set the benchmark with 970 runs in 1997 – a record that remained unchallenged until Mandhana’s exceptional performance in 2025.
Smriti Mandhana now holds the record for most ODI runs in a calendar year (AP Photo)
The 29-year-old left-handed batter, who started the match with 959 runs to her name, crossed the milestone in impressive fashion before being dismissed for 23 runs in the 11th over. Following her departure, Mandhana’s 2025 tally stands at an astounding 982 runs from just 17 matches. Her incredible year includes an average of 57.76 and a blistering strike rate of 112.22, featuring four centuries and three half-centuries. Her highest individual score this year is 135, complemented by 122 fours and 24 sixes.
Mandhana’s record-breaking form has been a pivotal factor in India’s unbeaten run throughout the World Cup so far. Despite somewhat modest starts in earlier games against Sri Lanka (8 runs) and Pakistan (23 runs), she has consistently been India’s standout performer in the ODI format this year.
She is also rapidly approaching another significant career milestone: the 5,000-run mark in ODIs. If achieved, she would become only the second Indian woman and the fifth player overall to reach this elite batting landmark.
Most Runs in a Calendar Year in Women’s ODIs
| Year | Player | Country | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Smriti Mandhana | India | 982 |
| 1997 | Belinda Clark | Australia | 970 |
| 2022 | Laura Wolvaardt | South Africa | 882 |
| 1997 | Deborah Ann Hockley | New Zealand | 880 |
| 2016 | Amy Ella Satterthwaite | New Zealand | 853 |
Match Details and Upcoming Fixtures
The match in Visakhapatnam faced an hour-long delay due to rain, impacting the start of play. South Africa’s captain, Laura Wolvaardt, won the toss and elected to field first. India made one strategic change to their lineup, bringing Amanjot Kaur back into the squad in place of Renuka Singh Thakur. Meanwhile, South Africa included Tumi Sekhukhune, who replaced Masabata Klaas.
Looking ahead, India is set to face Australia this Sunday, while South Africa will compete against Bangladesh in their next fixture, also held at the same venue.
For now, however, the spotlight remains firmly on Smriti Mandhana. Her exceptional performance with the bat continues to set new standards for consistency in women’s ODI cricket, redefining what is possible in the game.