India's star batter Smriti Mandhana achieved a historic milestone on October 12 during the Women’s World Cup 2025 match against Australia. She became the first woman cricketer in history to score 1,000 ODI runs in a calendar year. India's vice-captain, who needed just 18 runs to reach the landmark, brought up the thousand-run mark in style with a huge six off Sophie Molineux's bowling.
Smriti Mandhana steps on massive feat
Mandhana had also broken a separate record just a few days earlier. In the last match against South Africa on Thursday, the 29-year-old surpassed the record for the most runs made by a woman batter in a calendar year during a Women's World Cup. She went past Belinda Clark's tally of 970 runs, set in 1997, with a six off Ayabonga Khaka in the eighth over of the innings.
The southpaw is currently playing in her third ODI World Cup, having been a key part of the side that finished runners-up to England in the 2017 edition. Mandhana is now also rapidly nearing 5,000 career runs in ODIs. Achieving this would make her only the second Indian batter and the fifth overall to reach the significant career landmark.
Mandhana becomes 1st batter in women's cricket history to score 1000 ODI runs in a calendar year
Despite achieving those monumental personal records, Smriti Mandhana hasn't been in her best form during this World Cup tournament. Her recent scores have been relatively low: 8 against Sri Lanka, 23 against Pakistan, and 23 against South Africa. While India managed to secure wins in the first two matches, their misfiring top order's struggles were exposed against the Proteas, resulting in a three-wicket loss.
In Sunday's crucial ICC Women’s World Cup match, Australia skipper Alyssa Healy won the toss and elected to bowl against India. For this important fixture, Australia made one change to their playing XI, bringing in spin all-rounder Sophie Molineux to replace Georgia Wareham. India, on the other hand, chose to retain the same playing XI that featured in their previous loss to South Africa.
India's Playing XI:
Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh(w), Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani
Australia's Playing XI:
Alyssa Healy(w/c), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Kim Garth, Alana King, Megan Schutt