Smriti Mandhana and Temba Bavuma Recognized Among TIME's Most Influential Sports Figures

Cricketers Shine in TIME's Influential List

Smriti Mandhana, a prominent player in India's women's cricket team, and Temba Bavuma, the captain of South Africa's Test team, have both made it to TIME magazine's 'The 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026' list, released earlier this month.

Their inclusion underscores the significant impact both athletes have had on the global cricketing landscape.

Smriti Mandhana's Trailblazing Achievements

Charlie Campbell, the editor-at-large at TIME, praised Mandhana for her remarkable achievements, including being the first Indian woman to score a domestic ODI double century and the first female cricketer to hit international centuries across all three formats. With a total of 17 international centuries, she holds the record for the most in women's cricket.

Campbell also highlighted her leadership roles, notably captaining the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to Women's Premier League (WPL) titles in both 2024 and 2026, as well as her pivotal role as vice-captain during India's ICC Women's World Cup victory in 2025.

"Records continue to fall for Smriti Mandhana. The left-handed opener from Mumbai was the first Indian woman to achieve a double century in a domestic one-day match and to score centuries in all three international formats. She shares the record for the most international centuries in women's cricket with 17. Additionally, she was the first woman to surpass 1,000 ODI runs in a single calendar year. However, her pride lies in the team accolades she has amassed," Campbell noted on TIME's website.

Temba Bavuma: A Leader with Historical Significance

Temba Bavuma has been recognized by Campbell for embodying significant historical and social expectations as one of the few Black cricketers from South Africa. His milestones include being the first Black South African to score a Test century in 2016 and the first Black captain of the national team in 2021.

In 2025, Bavuma led South Africa to a historic Test series victory in India and an unbeaten World Test Championship win against Australia.

"Temba Bavuma carries more than just the weight of his jersey. As one of the few Black cricketers in South Africa, his achievements are seen as pivotal for the sport. Fortunately, he has experienced more triumphs than setbacks. In 2016, he became the first Black South African to score a century, and five years later, he was appointed as the first Black captain of the national team," Campbell remarked.

Cricket South Africa Celebrates Bavuma's Recognition

Cricket South Africa (CSA) expressed their congratulations to Bavuma for being included in TIME's 100 Most Influential People in Sports list, describing it as a prestigious recognition. They emphasized his inspirational leadership and his role in leading South Africa to the ICC World Test Championship title in 2025.

"A Prestigious Honour. #TheProteas captain, Temba Bavuma, has been named in TIME's 100 Most Influential People in Sports. Recognized for his inspirational leadership and for guiding South Africa to the ICC World Test Championship title in June 2025. A fitting tribute to a leader who continues to inspire a nation," CSA stated in a post on X.