Smriti Mandhana Sets New Record as India's Leading T20I Run-Scorer

Smriti Mandhana has etched her name in cricket history by becoming India's highest run-scorer in T20 Internationals, surpassing Rohit Sharma's record. In the first match against South Africa, she scored 13 runs, bringing her total to 4,244 runs. Despite her achievement, India lost the match by six wickets. The Proteas chased down the target of 158 runs with notable performances from Laura Wolvaardt and Annerie Dercksen. The teams will clash again on Sunday at Kingsmead, Durban.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 18, 2026, 15:58 IST

Mandhana Achieves Milestone in T20I Cricket

In a remarkable achievement, Smriti Mandhana, the vice-captain of the Indian women's cricket team, has become the highest run-scorer for India in T20 Internationals. This milestone was reached during the first match of the five-match T20I series against South Africa in Durban on Friday.

Mandhana eclipsed the previous record held by Rohit Sharma, the captain of the 2024 T20 World Cup-winning team, for the most T20I runs by an Indian player. She has amassed a total of 4,244 runs in 155 innings across 161 matches, boasting an average of 30.31 and a strike rate of 124.38. Her impressive tally includes one century and 33 half-centuries, solidifying her status as one of India's most reliable batters in this format.

Entering the match against South Africa, Mandhana was tied with Rohit Sharma at 4,231 T20I runs. She contributed 13 runs off 14 balls in the game, bringing her total to 4,244. Currently, she ranks as the second-highest run-scorer in women's T20 Internationals, trailing only Suzie Bates, who leads with 4,717 runs from 175 innings. In men's T20Is, the record is held by Pakistan's Babar Azam, who has scored 4,596 runs in 136 innings.

South Africa Claims Victory in Series Opener

In the opening match against South Africa, the Indian women's team faced defeat, with the Proteas winning by six wickets. Laura Wolvaardt and Annerie Dercksen were key players in this match, with Wolvaardt scoring a solid 51 runs to guide the chase, while Dercksen remained not out at 44.

India set a target of 158 runs, led by Harmanpreet Kaur's unbeaten 47. Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues also made valuable contributions with scores of 34 and 36, respectively. However, a sluggish finish hampered India's total. South Africa's bowling attack was spearheaded by Ayabonga Khaka, who took 3 wickets for just 16 runs, with Tumi Sekhukhune and Nonkululeko Mlaba providing support with 2/27 and 1/30, respectively.

The two teams are scheduled to meet again on Sunday at Kingsmead in Durban.