Smriti Mandhana literally signed her name into the history books through an excellent piece of batting and breaking the 28-year-old women’s ODI record that had been held by the Australian great, Belinda Clark, for so long. The milestone occurred at the World Cup match of the Indian women against South Africa in Visakhapatnam, where Mandhana crossed the total of 970 runs that Clark had for a calendar year.
Smriti Mandhana was already having 959 runs in the year 2025 when he registered for the tournament. She hit a huge six off Ayabonga Khaka during the 8th over of the match, which took his total score to 982, and thus she broke the record of Clark. Though her stay at the crease terminated at 23, she had already left her mark on history, so the damage was done.
Seventeen innings produced that count at an average of 57.76 and a strike rate of 112.22. She recorded four centuries and three fifties in the year. Her season-long consistency provided India with a reliable opener whose presence commanded respect from adversaries. The record she broke had felt virtually unattainable. Still unmatched through years of women’s ODI cricket, Belinda Clark’s 970 runs in 1997 established a standard of stamina and dominance. Mandhana’s 2025 campaign has redefined the contemporary game’s understanding of constancy.
Starting powerfully in the game itself, India had Mandhana joining Pratika Rawal to produce an opening stand of 55 runs. India’s innings, however, collapsed to 92 for 4 after 83 for 1 as wickets tumbled in bunches. The emphasis remained on accounting for the early damage and keeping the innings alive as the squad tried to recover. Inside a World Cup setting, this monument is particularly important since it honors Smriti Mandhana’s capacity to play on the biggest stage rather than just a numerical nugget. Undefeated thus far in the tournament, India will appreciate this confidence as they aim for the championship.
