New Delhi, June 18: The Indian women’s cricket team has made a strong start in the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup. They secured victories in their first two matches against Pakistan and the Netherlands. Key to these wins has been the outstanding performance of opener and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana.
In the match against Pakistan, Mandhana scored 68 runs off 44 balls, hitting 2 sixes and 9 fours, playing a crucial role in India’s 64-run victory. In the second match against the Netherlands, she continued her impressive form, scoring 74 runs off 47 balls, including 1 six and 11 fours. Her contributions helped the team post a total of 209 runs, leading to a significant 95-run win.
Currently, Mandhana has accumulated 142 runs in 23 matches, including 2 half-centuries, making her the leading run-scorer in the tournament. If she maintains this performance in the upcoming match against South Africa on June 21, she could surpass former captain Mithali Raj.
Mithali Raj is recognized as India’s second-most successful batter in the history of the Women’s T20 World Cup. Between 2009 and 2018, she scored 726 runs in 23 innings across 24 matches. Mandhana is just 61 runs shy of this milestone. If she scores 61 runs against South Africa, she will not only surpass Raj but also become the second-most successful Indian batter in T20 World Cup history, moving to 12th place overall.
Currently, the record for the most runs by an Indian player in the Women’s T20 World Cup is held by the current captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, who has scored 774 runs in 35 innings across 41 matches. She ranks eighth overall and is the only Indian player in the top 10.
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