Smriti Mandhana Becomes All-Time Top Run-Scorer in Women's T20Is

India opener Smriti Mandhana etched her name into cricket history on September 20, 2026, becoming the leading run-scorer in Women’s T20 International (WT20I) history. Surpassing New Zealand legend Suzie Bates’ long-standing record of 4,758 runs, Mandhana achieved the feat during India’s Asian Games semi-final clash against Bangladesh at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin.
The Historic Milestone

Entering the semi-final needing just two runs to eclipse Bates, Mandhana wasted no time in making history. Partnering with Shafali Verma, she opened the innings aggressively, driving India through a dominant powerplay.

​Mandhana scored a quickfire 37 off 19 balls, pushing her career WT20I run total to 4,765 runs. Her explosive start alongside Verma laid down a solid 72-run opening partnership, setting up India's bid to secure a place in the gold medal match.

Top 5 Run-Scorers in Women's T20 Internationals

A Landmark Year for the Indian Vice-Captain

​This milestone cements Mandhana's status as one of the game's modern greats. The achievement comes shortly after the 30-year-old took the top spot for the most international runs across all women’s formats (ODIs, T20Is, and Tests combined).