Team India’s opening batsman Smriti Mandhana etched her name in the record books during the first women’s T20 International against South Africa. The left-hander surpassed legendary cricketer Rohit Sharma to become the highest run-scorer representing India in the shortest format of the game in international cricket.
South Africa defeated India by six wickets during the series opener at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday 17 April. Captain Laura Wolvaardt led from the front with a crucial knock of 51 runs off 39 balls, guiding the home team during the run chase. South Africa completed the target of 158 runs with five deliveries remaining.
Before the match, Smriti Mandhana was tied with Rohit Sharma for the most T20I runs for India. Rohit had finished his career with 4,231 runs, including five centuries and 32 half-centuries, before retiring after India’s triumph in the 2024 World Cup.
Mandhana had a relatively quiet outing, scoring 13 runs off 14 deliveries, including a six, before being dismissed by Ayabonga Khaka. The 28-year-old managed to surpass Rohit Sharma and break the long-standing national record.
After the match, Mandhana has 4,244 runs in 161 appearances at an average of 30.53 and a strike rate of 124.45, with 33 half-centuries and one century.
Team India’s top five run scorers in T20Is:
| Player | Equipment | Entrance | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana | indian women | 155 | 4,244 |
| Rohit Sharma | India Men | 151 | 4,231 |
| Virat Kohli | India Men | 117 | 4,188 |
| Harmanpreet Kaur | indian women | 169 | 3,822 |
| Suryakumar Yadav | India Men | 107 | 3,272 |
Smriti Mandhana rises to third place in the all-time T20I run-scorers list
Smriti Mandhana rose to third place among the world’s top scorers in both men’s and women’s T20 international runs. New Zealand veteran Suzie Bates holds the women’s record with 4,717 runs in 175 innings during her international career.
Pakistani batsman Babar Azam is on top of the men’s charts with 4,596 runs in 136 innings. With Bates approaching 38 and Babar Azam facing uncertainty in his selection, the 28-year-old Indian vice-captain has a strong chance of challenging the world record in the coming years.
Top five run scorers in T20Is (men’s and women’s combined):
| Player | Equipment | Entrance | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suzie Bates | New Zealand women | 175 | 4,717 |
| Babar Azam | Pakistan men | 136 | 4,596 |
| Smriti Mandhana | indian women | 155 | 4,244 |
| Rohit Sharma | India Men | 151 | 4,231 |
| Virat Kohli | India Men | 117 | 4,188 |
India suffer six-wicket defeat in first T20I against South Africa
Shafali Verma gave India an explosive start by scoring 34 runs off 20 deliveries. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur remained unbeaten on 47 off 33 balls, while Jemimah Rodrigues added a valuable knock of 36 runs. They helped India post a total of 157 for the loss of seven wickets.
Ayabonga Khaka had an excellent bowling performance, picking up three crucial wickets and conceding 16 runs. Tumi Sekhukhune also impressed by breaking key partnerships and claiming two important wickets, preventing the Indian batting line-up from reaching a more challenging total.
During the chase, Laura Wolvaardt led from the front and attacked during the power play. Annerie Dercksen remained unbeaten on 44 off 34 deliveries, guiding South Africa to a comfortable six-wicket win and helping the hosts take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Also Read: Revealed: Why RCB wears green jerseys in their 100th IPL match at Chinnaswamy against DC