Smriti Mandhana Sets New T20I Record at Asian Games 2026
ICC Chairman Applauds Mandhana's Achievement
Jay Shah, the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), extended his congratulations to Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana after she became the top run-scorer in women's T20 International cricket during the semifinal match against Bangladesh at the Asian Games 2026 on Sunday.
In a post on X, Shah commended Mandhana's remarkable feat, stating that she is establishing new standards for women's cricket and motivating aspiring players. He wrote, "Congratulations to @mandhana_smriti for leading the Women’s T20I run charts with 4,788 runs. By making history, you are elevating women's cricket and inspiring young dreamers everywhere. Here’s to many more achievements ahead!"
Mandhana Breaks T20I Records
Mandhana eclipsed the previous record held by New Zealand's Suzie Bates, who had scored 4,758 runs, to claim the top position in the all-time women's T20I run-scoring leaderboard. She reached this milestone during the second semifinal against Bangladesh at Korogi Sports Park.
Her innings of 37 runs off 19 balls, featuring five fours and two sixes, contributed significantly to India's strong start alongside Shafali Verma. The duo put together a partnership of 72 runs for the opening wicket before Mandhana was dismissed.
India Advances to the Final
India secured a decisive victory over Bangladesh, winning by 114 runs, which earned them a spot in the gold medal match against Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan team reached the final after defeating Pakistan by eight wickets in the first semifinal.
Mandhana's Stellar International Career
This achievement adds to Mandhana's impressive international statistics, as she has accumulated a total of 10,964 runs across all formats. Harmanpreet Kaur ranks third on the women's T20I run charts with 4,287 runs, while Suzie Bates follows in second with 4,758 runs. The top five also includes Chamari Athapaththu from Sri Lanka (4,282 runs) and New Zealand's Sophie Devine (3,817 runs).
Mandhana's record-setting performance comes as India aims for a gold medal at the Asian Games, with the final match against Sri Lanka on the horizon.