In a truly monumental performance on Sunday, October 12, 2025, Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana etched her name into the history books during a high-stakes Women’s World Cup group match against Australia in Visakhapatnam. She became the first player in women’s One-Day Internationals to reach an incredible 1,000 runs in a single calendar year.
But the milestones didn’t stop there. The 29-year-old opening batter also soared past 5,000 career runs in Women’s ODIs, a remarkable achievement that makes her only the fifth overall and second Indian batter, after the legendary Mithali Raj, to accomplish this feat. Mandhana achieved this milestone with exceptional speed, becoming the youngest and fastest to 5,000 runs, reaching it in just 112 innings and facing 5,569 balls. This performance dramatically surpassed previous records held by Stafanie Taylor (129 innings) and Suzie Bates (6,182 balls).
After a relatively subdued start to the tournament, Mandhana roared back to her formidable best against Australia. Her elegant left-handed strokeplay saw her smash an impressive 80 runs off just 66 balls, including nine boundaries and three towering sixes. She anchored a magnificent 155-run opening partnership with Pratika Rawal, which also marked the first century opening stand of the entire competition.
Mandhana, who began the day needing 18 runs to reach the 1,000-run mark for the year, wasted no time. She secured this historic landmark in the eighth over, unleashing a fierce assault on Australian left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux. In a dazzling display, Mandhana hammered Molineux for a four, a six, and another four in an over that yielded 16 runs, emphatically breaking Belinda Clark’s long-standing record of 970 runs set in 1997 for the highest calendar year total in women’s ODIs.
Her innings began with a positive intent, opening her account with a boundary off the very first over from Kim Garth. However, it was Molineux’s over that truly ignited her innings and secured her place in the record books. Mandhana effortlessly lofted the first ball over mid-on for a boundary, calmly defended the next, then powerfully launched the third delivery for a six over long-on, before pulling another boundary over square leg. This flurry of runs cemented her dual records.
Having previously recorded scores of 8, 23, and 23 against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and South Africa earlier in the tournament, Mandhana appeared transformed against her favorite opposition. She showcased a masterclass in batting, displaying both fluency and authority. With surgical precision, she dissected the field, employing her signature silken drives and powerful aerial strokes to dismantle the Australian attack.