Smriti Mandhana became the all-time leading run-scorer in women’s T20 Internationals on September 20, 2026, during India’s Asian Games 2026 semi-final versus Bangladesh at Nagoya’s Korogi Sports Park.
Smriti Mandhana surpassed New Zealand’s Suzie Bates, whose total of 4,758 runs across 186 matches had previously stood as the benchmark, to reach 4,765 in the format. This achievement makes her the most prolific batter in women’s T20I history.
During the same innings, Smriti Mandhana hit 100 sixes in women’s T20Is, setting a second notable milestone on the same afternoon. She scored 37 off 19 balls, including five fours and two sixes, before being removed, and she and Shafali Verma shared a 72-run opening stand.
Where does Smriti Mandhana stand in the all-time women’s T20I run-scoring list?
Smriti Mandhana 4,765 runs put her at the top of the women’s T20I run-scoring history, while Bates is now second after her record of 4,758 runs in 186 matches was broken. The seven-run deficit between the two batters indicates how tightly contested the top of the list was heading into the semi-final.
Harmanpreet Kaur, India’s skipper, ranks third with 4,287 runs. Chamari Athapaththu of Sri Lanka is fourth with 4,282, while Sophie Devine of New Zealand completes the top five with 3,817 runs. The top three hitters on the list are Indian or India-linked, demonstrating the depth of run-scoring prowess provided by the women’s game on the subcontinent.
Beyond the T20I format, Smriti Mandhana has 10,964 runs in all three formats of international cricket, cementing her position as one of the most consistent batters in the women’s game worldwide. The 100-sixes milestone in T20Is, achieved in the same match, adds weight to a record-breaking day that included both volume and striking power throughout her T20I career.
What is the significance of setting this record during the Asian Games in 2026?
The milestone was achieved at the second women’s cricket semi-final of the Asian Games 2026, a multi-sport tournament held in Nagoya, Japan, providing context beyond the bilateral and ICC calendars. The Asian Games platform operates outside of the conventional ICC bilateral and worldwide tournament structures, but the matches have full T20I status, which means that every run scored counts toward career tallies.
In a knockout match, India met Bangladesh with a gold medal on the line. Sri Lanka overcame Pakistan by eight wickets in the first semi-final and will play the winner of India-Bangladesh in the final, setting up a potentially high-profile gold medal match in Nagoya.
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