Indian cricket star Smriti Mandhana achieved historic milestones during a crucial Women’s World Cup match against Australia in Visakhapatnam. In a sensational display, Mandhana not only reached the coveted 1,000 runs in a calendar year in ODIs, becoming the first woman to do so, but also surpassed 5,000 career runs in the format. She achieved the career landmark as the youngest and fastest player ever, in terms of innings and balls faced.
Mandhana’s remarkable innings saw her break Belinda Clark’s previous record for most runs in a calendar year, amassing 1,068 runs in 18 innings in 2025. This achievement places her above legendary cricketers like Laura Wolvaardt and Amy Satterthwaite. Furthermore, she became the fifth woman to reach 5,000 ODI runs, but did so in significantly fewer innings (112) and deliveries than previous record-holders like Stafanie Taylor and Suzie Bates.
The match also saw Mandhana achieve her fifth consecutive fifty-plus score against Australia, a feat unmatched by any other batter. Her partnership with Pratika Rawal, which yielded a significant 155-run opening stand, provided India with a strong foundation against the formidable Australian team. Despite eventually being dismissed for 80, Mandhana’s record-breaking performance set a new benchmark in women’s ODI cricket.