India’s opening batsman Smriti Mandhana broke the all-time record in the 10th match of the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup against South Africa. The left-handed batsman has surpassed former Australian cricketer Belinda Clarke’s record for the most runs by a female batsman in a single year.
India won the first two matches of the World Cup. After an hour-long delay due to rain, South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt opted to start in Visakhapatnam on Friday, October 9. South Africa brought on Tumi Sekhune for Masabata Klaas, while India brought back Amanjot Kaur for Renuka Singh Thakur.
Smriti Mandhana breaks all-time record in women’s ODIs
Smriti Mandhana made history by breaking Belinda Clarke’s long-held record for most ODI runs in a calendar year. The 29-year-old achieved the milestone by bowling Ayabonga Kaka for six runs in the eighth over of India’s innings. Clarke scored 970 runs for Australia in 1997.
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Mandhana has currently scored 982 runs in 17 matches, with an average of close to 60 and a strike rate of 113.76, including four centuries in 2025. The previous highest single-year record by an Indian woman was Deepti Sharma’s 787 runs in 2017.
If Mandhana adds 18 more runs in the ongoing major tournament, she will become the first female cricketer to reach 1000 ODI runs in a calendar year, further cementing her dominance in the format.
Most ODIs played in a calendar year – Women’s Cricket
| player | team | match | run | year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| smriti mandana | India | 17* | 972* | 2025 |
| belinda clarke | Australia | 16 | 970 | 1997 |
| Laura Wolvaardt | South Africa | 18 | 882 | 2022 |
| Debbie Hockley | new zealand | 16 | 880 | 1997 |
| amy satterthwaite | new zealand | 15 | 853 | 2016 |
| belinda clarke | Australia | 16 | 842 | 2000 |
| Nut SPE-Blunt | england | 17 | 833 | 2022 |
| clare taylor | england | 20 | 807 | 2005 |
| deepti sharma | India | 20 | 787 | 2017 |
| Mitali Raj | India | 19 | 783 | 2017 |
Smriti Mandhana sets new batting record in World Cup
Smriti Mandhana had a slow start in the Women’s World Cup, scoring 8 goals and 23 points in the opening games against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The left-handed player is playing in her third ODI World Cup and played a key role in India’s semi-final victory in England in 2017.
The Maharashtra batsman is also nearing the milestone of 5,000 runs in women’s ODIs, with only four others achieving this feat. If she reaches her target, Mandhana will join Mithali Raj as the second Indian player and fifth overall.
Mithali (7,805 runs), England’s Charlotte Edwards (5,992 runs), New Zealand’s Susie Bates (5,896 runs) and West Indies’ Stafani Taylor (5,873 runs in 170 ODIs) have scored more runs than Mandhana in this format.
In the ODI series against Australia in September, Smriti scored two centuries. She displayed her explosive form in the series decider at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium on September 20, reaching 100 in just 50 balls.
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