‘Didn’t know I broke the record’ – Smriti Mandhana after going past Mithali Raj as top run-getter in women’s cricket

Smriti Mandhana has become the highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket across all formats, surpassing former India captain Mithali Raj during a Women’s Asia Cup 2026 Group A match against Hong Kong at Dubai International Stadium. Mandhana now holds 10,880 runs in women’s internationals, going past Raj’s tally of 10,868.

Mandhana reached the milestone during a stunning innings of 124 off 64 balls, which included 14 fours and 7 sixes. She broke the record with a hat-trick of sixes in the 18th over off Ruchitha Venkatesh. Speaking to ICC after the match, Mandhana admitted she was unaware of the milestone while she was at the crease.

“Yeah, till I was batting, I didn’t know what record (I had broken) because I didn’t know what exact runs (I had made). But looking back, I’d say a very good day for Indian cricket,” Smriti said at the post-match press conference as quoted by ICC.

“Of course, Mithali (Raj) di has been such a legend and a role model. And we’ve all grown up watching her bat, so to go past in the tally of runs is something that I’d definitely not imagined to do.”

she added.

The innings was also her second T20I century. Her first came against England in 2025, when she scored 112. Her 124 is now the highest individual score in Women’s T20 Asia Cup history, going past Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu, who had scored an unbeaten 119 against Malaysia in 2024.

How does Mandhana’s century tally now compare to other women’s greats?

Mandhana’s 124 against Hong Kong was her 18th international century across all formats. That tally moves her past Australia’s Meg Lanning, who had held the record for the most centuries in women’s internationals with 17. Mandhana is now the leading century-maker across all women’s international cricket.

“Two of the legends of the game: Meg Lanning and Mithali Raj. These are the people I’ve grown up watching. I’ve tried to take a lot of things from them as batters. So really happy that I could go past them in whatever ways,” Smriti added.

What does India’s batting depth look like ahead of the Pakistan match?

While Mandhana’s innings was dominant, the rest of India’s batting order showed room for improvement in the match against Hong Kong. The second-highest score in the innings was Shafali Verma‘s 28, and India had lost 8 wickets for 46 runs in their first game of the tournament, raising questions about the middle order’s consistency.

The Women in Blue are scheduled to face arch-rivals Pakistan in their next Women’s Asia Cup 2026 match on Saturday, September 5. Smriti will be high on confidence coming into this clash after a dreamy outing in the previous innings.