Smriti Mandhana is not one to rest on laurels. She declared “it’s just the start” of things to come soon after setting two world records in Dubai on Thursday.
The India vice-captain smashed 124 off 64 balls against Hong Kong in the Women’s Asia Cup and overtook Mithali Raj’s tally of 10,868 international runs. She now has 10,880 to be the leading run-scorer in women’s internationals across formats.
She also has a record 18 international centuries, overtaking Meg Lanning and Laura Wolvaardt who have 17 each. Mandhana has 14 ODI centuries – one behind Lanning at the top – and two each in Tests and T20Is.
“Till I was batting (on Thursday), I didn’t know what record because I didn’t know what’s the exact runs or all of that,” Mandhana said.
“But yeah, looking back, definitely a very good day for Indian cricket, I would say. Of course, Mithali di has been such a legend and a role model, and we’ve all grown up watching her bat, so to go past her in the runs tally is something I definitely never imagined to do. But happy that there are two Indians in the top two.”
Having reached 18 centuries was also something she relished.
“Going past the international record of the centuries, I mean, 18 is a good number to go past, firstly I will say that,” Mandhana said. “But again, two of the legends of women’s cricket, Meg Lanning and Mithali Raj.
“Genuinely, these are the two people I have grown up watching a lot, tried to take a lot of things from them as batters. So really happy that I could go past them in whatever way. But again, it’s just the start I would say.”
It was mainly because of Mandhana that India managed a comprehensive 137-run victory in Dubai. There were still middle-order issues which needed to be sorted out. Mandhana, however, did wish to put the blame on anyone.
“I wouldn’t say that it’s easy conditions to bat out there,” she said. “We know it can be a little tricky and definitely I am not the one to come in the press conferences and talk about or name anyone in that way. But having said that, I think everyone is a world-class batter in the middle order, and there’s no doubt that they’ll be able to adapt.”
Former captain Mithali congratulated Mandhana.
“Well deserved, @mandhana_smriti!” she wrote on X. “I’ve watched you grow from a young player into one of the finest batters India has produced. To see you go past my record and become the highest run-scorer in international cricket is a moment I’m genuinely proud of. Here’s to many more runs and milestones. Keep going.”