By Team INVC | INVC NEWS
NISSHIN, Japan | September 21, 2026 — Indian batting superstar Smriti Mandhana has created another piece of cricket history, becoming the highest run-scorer in Women’s T20 Internationals and moving past New Zealand legend Suzie Bates at the top of the all-time charts.
Mandhana achieved the landmark during India’s Asian Games 2026 semi-final against Bangladesh. The left-handed opener smashed 37 runs from just 19 balls, helping India make a blistering start before Nahida Akter dismissed her on the final delivery of the powerplay. India went on to register a massive 114-run victory and book a place in the gold-medal match against Sri Lanka.
For Mandhana, however, those 37 runs carried significance far beyond the Asian Games semi-final.
They put the Indian opener on top of the Women’s T20I run-scoring mountain.
Smriti Mandhana Goes Past Suzie Bates
According to the ICC’s updated record table, Mandhana reached 4,788 Women’s T20I runs, moving ahead of former New Zealand captain Suzie Bates, who has 4,758.
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur sits third with 4,327 runs, followed by Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu with 4,282 and New Zealand’s Sophie Devine with 3,817.
That makes Mandhana the new benchmark for run-scoring in the shortest international format of the women’s game.
And at 30, her record could still grow substantially.
From India Debut to the Top of World Cricket
Mandhana made her international debut in 2013.
Over the years, she developed from an exciting young opener into one of the most consistent and recognisable batters in world cricket.
Her elegant cover drives became a trademark, but Mandhana’s evolution has involved much more than style. She has added power, improved her scoring rate and developed the ability to dominate attacks during the powerplay.
That combination has made her particularly dangerous in T20 cricket.
The latest milestone is therefore not an isolated achievement. It is another major record in what has already become a historic year for the Indian opener.
Mandhana Had Already Broken Mithali Raj’s Record
Earlier this month, Mandhana produced a sensational 124 from 64 balls against Hong Kong, China during the Women’s Asia Cup 2026.
That innings took her past former India captain Mithali Raj to become the highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket across all formats.
Mandhana reached 10,880 international runs at that stage, surpassing Raj’s career total of 10,868.
But she did not stop there.
The same innings also carried Mandhana past former Australia captain Meg Lanning for the most international centuries in women’s cricket at the time, giving her an extraordinary collection of records within a single tournament.
2026 Is Turning Into a Landmark Year for Mandhana
Mandhana has already played a central role in several major Indian successes.
India won a record-extending eighth Women’s Asia Cup title earlier this month after defeating Sri Lanka in the final. Mandhana scored 59 in that match as India posted 183/5 before completing a comfortable victory.
Now the Asian Games have provided another stage for her.
Against Bangladesh, Mandhana and Shafali Verma powered India to 72/1 inside the powerplay, putting the opposition under immediate pressure.
Mandhana’s 37 came from only 19 balls.
Yet while the innings itself was short, it was long enough to rewrite the record books.
India Now Chase Asian Games Gold
The record came on a highly successful day for the Indian women’s team.
India’s 114-run semi-final victory over Bangladesh secured a place in the Asian Games gold-medal match, where they are scheduled to face Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka reached the final after defeating Pakistan in the other semi-final.
That creates another major opportunity for Mandhana and India.
A personal world record is already secured.
An Asian Games gold medal could now make the occasion even more memorable.
Smriti Mandhana’s Latest Records Tell a Bigger Story
The numbers underline just how remarkable Mandhana’s recent rise has been.
She now stands at the top of the all-time Women’s T20I run list. She has also moved to the top of the women’s international run-scoring charts across formats.
In addition, the ICC currently lists her among the leading batters in both white-ball formats, including the top position in its Women’s ODI batting rankings at the time of the record announcement.
Few players manage to combine longevity, consistency and aggressive scoring across formats.
Mandhana increasingly has all three.
For Indian cricket, the latest milestone means one of the sport’s most significant batting records now belongs to an Indian.
For Smriti Mandhana, it may simply be another chapter in a record book she continues to rewrite.
