Smriti Mandhana breaks Rohit Sharma's record, becomes India's leading run-scorer in T20Is

India women's team vice-captain Smriti Mandhana scripted history in the first T20I of the series against South Africa on April 17. Mandhana was dismissed for 13 runs but she broke former India men's T20I skipper Rohit Sharma's record for most runs in T20Is (men or women’s cricket).

Rohit retired as the highest run-scorer in T20Is after the T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, a record that was later broken by Pakistan's Babar Azam. Rohit has 4,231 runs from 159 T20Is at an average of 32.05 and strike rate of 140.89. He scored five centuries and 32 fifties in the T20I format.

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Mandhana is currently the second-highest run-scorer in women's T20Is. She has 4,244 runs from 161 games at an average of 30.31 and strike rate of 124.38. She has a century and 33 fifties in her name. The Indian opener is only behind New Zealand's Suzie Bates who has 4,717 runs from 181 games at an average of 28.93 and strike rate of 108.56, featuring a century and 28 half-centuries.

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In the T20I series opener at Kingsmead, Durban, Mandhana was dismissed by Ayabonga Khaka who went on to win the 'Player of the match' award.

India lose T20I series opener

India posted 157/7 on the board. The target was under par as India lost too many wickets in the last six overs. The target was chased down by South Africa with six wickets in hand and five balls to spare.

Mandhana wants a big one in next T20I

After the defeat, Mandhana talked about getting back to the groove in the next game and register a big knock.