January 15, 2025: Smriti Mandhana etched her name in the history books on Wednesday with a remarkable performance in the third and final ODI against Ireland at Rajkot.
The Indian stand-in captain smashed the fastest ODI century by an Indian women's batter, scoring 135 runs off just 80 deliveries, featuring 12 fours and 7 sixes, with a strike rate of 168.75. Her century came off just 70 balls, surpassing her regular captain, Harmanpreet Kaur’s previous record of 87 balls for the fastest ODI century by an Indian women’s batter.
This century marked her 10th in ODIs, making her the first-ever Asian woman to achieve this feat, ahead of Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu, who has 9 centuries. Mandhana joins the ranks of top players in the women's ODI scene, with Australia’s Meg Lanning (15 centuries), New Zealand’s Suzie Bates (13 centuries), and England’s Tammy Beaumont (10 centuries) still ahead of her.
Mandhana’s performance also included 7 sixes, which equaled Harmanpreet Kaur's record for the most sixes by an Indian woman batter in an ODI innings. Additionally, Mandhana matched Kaur's career tally of 52 sixes in ODIs.
Since 2024, Mandhana has been in sensational form, amassing 996 runs in 16 ODIs at an average of 62.25, including four centuries and five fifties. Her overall ODI stats stand at 4,209 runs in 97 matches, with 10 centuries and 30 fifties, at an impressive average of 46.25.
In the match, Mandhana’s explosive innings was complemented by a stellar knock from Pratika Rawal, who scored 154 runs off 129 balls with 20 fours and a six. Wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh also contributed with 59 runs off 42 balls. The Indian team posted a massive total of 435/5 in their 50 overs, setting a new record for India’s highest ODI score, surpassing the men’s team’s total of 418/5 against the West Indies in 2011.
India's victory not only marked a historic day for Mandhana but also highlighted the team’s dominance, setting a new benchmark in both men’s and women’s ODIs.
