Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana etched her name in history on Sunday (December 21) by becoming the first Indian woman to surpass 4,000 runs in Women's T20 Internationals. The elegant left-hander achieved this landmark during the first T20I against Sri Lanka at Visakhapatnam's ACA-VDCA Stadium.
Entering the match needing just 18 runs to reached the feat, Mandhana crossed the milestone in just 15 balls during India's chase. She now stands second on the all-time list, behind only New Zealand's Suzie Bates (4,716 runs). Remarkably, Mandhana is the fastest to reach 4,000, doing so in 3,227 balls compared to Bates' 3,675.
Cricketers with most runs in Women’s T20Is
Suzie Bates (New Zealand) - 4716 runs
Smriti Mandhana (India) - 4007 runs
Harmanpreet Kaur (India) - 3654 runs
Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka) - 3473 runs
Sophie Devine (New Zealand) - 3431 runs
Historic milestone in comfortable chase
Smriti Mandhana marked her return to international cricket with a brisk 25 off 25 balls before being dismissed. However, Jemimah Rodrigues took center stage with an unbeaten 69 off 44 balls, steering India to an eight-wicket victory with 32 balls to spare. Chasing Sri Lanka's modest 121/6, India reached 122/2 in 14.4 overs, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
This was Smriti Mandhana's first game since India's triumphant ODI World Cup campaign last month, where they clinched their maiden title.
Bowlers set up India's dominant win
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and chose to bowl under dew-heavy conditions. The decision proved spot on as India's attack restricted Sri Lanka effectively. Vishmi Gunaratne top-scored with 39 off 43, while Hasini Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama added 20 and 21.
Young seamer Kranti Gaud dismissed skipper Chamari Athapaththu early. Deepti Sharma (1/20) and debutant Vaishnavi Sharma (0/16 in four overs) bowled tightly. Despite a few dropped catches, the bowlers maintained pressure, preventing any big partnerships. Sri Lanka struggled to accelerate, posting a below-par total despite the start.
Why Smriti Mandhana's Record Stands Out
Smriti Mandhana's feat as the first Indian woman to 4,000 T20I runs cements her place among women's cricket greats. This feat highlights her dominance in the shortest format of the game. Her strike rate and consistency have made her India's batting pillar. Returning after the World Cup heroics, she looks primed to chase down Bates' total soon. The 29-year-old's latest milestone adds to her growing legacy, one of grace, power, and unbreakable records.
