Smriti Mandhana Rewrites Women’s Cricket History With Record-Breaking 124 Against Hong Kong

Smriti Mandhana has rewritten women’s cricket history, producing one of the most significant individual performances of her international career during India’s Women's Asia Cup 2026 match against Hong Kong in Dubai.

The Indian opener smashed 124 runs from just 64 deliveries, including 14 fours and seven sixes, as India posted 193/5. More importantly, the innings took Mandhana beyond former India captain Mithali Raj’s career tally of 10,868 international runs, making her the leading run-scorer in women’s international cricket across all formats.

Mandhana's career tally now stands at 10,880 runs, placing her at the top of a historic list that includes some of the greatest batters in women's cricket.

Mandhana Moves Past Mithali Raj

The record carries particular significance because Mithali Raj had occupied the top position for years and remains one of the defining figures in Indian women's cricket.

Mandhana overtook Raj during her explosive innings against Hong Kong, moving from 10,756 runs before the match to 10,880, a new benchmark for women's international cricket.

The achievement also creates a powerful generational link between two of India's greatest batters. Raj herself congratulated Mandhana after the record, describing it as a proud moment after watching her develop into one of India's finest players.

18th International Century

The record-breaking run tally was only one part of Mandhana's historic evening.

Her 124 was her 18th international century, moving her clear at the top of the women's international century charts. She moved beyond the previous joint mark of 17 centuries held by Meg Lanning and Laura Wolvaardt.

It was also Mandhana's second T20I century, following her 112 against England in 2025.

She has now become the first Indian woman to score multiple T20I centuries, further extending her influence across the shortest international format.

A Record-Breaking Asia Cup Knock

Mandhana's 124 was also the highest individual score by an Indian woman in women's T20Is, surpassing her previous record of 112.

It became one of the biggest individual innings in Women's Asia Cup history as well, with Mandhana's score going past Chamari Athapaththu's previous tournament record of 119.

Her seven sixes also took her career tally to 95 T20I sixes, moving her beyond Harmanpreet Kaur's previous mark of 89 among Indian women.

India Dominates Hong Kong

Mandhana's extraordinary batting performance put India firmly in control.

India reached 193/5 in 20 overs, with Mandhana providing the overwhelming majority of the attacking momentum. Hong Kong's chase then collapsed as India's bowling attack dismantled the batting order.

Deepti Sharma took three wickets for just nine runs, while Nandani Sharma, Prema Rawat and Shree Charani claimed two wickets each.

Hong Kong were eventually dismissed for 56, giving India a commanding 137-run victory and confirming their place in the Women's Asia Cup semi-finals.

More Than One Record

Mandhana's performance stands out because several major milestones arrived in the same innings.

She became:

• The highest run-scorer in women's international cricket — 10,880 runs
• The leading century-maker in women's international cricket — 18 centuries
• The first Indian woman with multiple T20I centuries
• The holder of the highest T20I score by an Indian woman — 124
• The batter with the highest individual score in Women's Asia Cup history, according to tournament records cited after the match.

The numbers underline the scale of Mandhana's consistency across formats rather than representing a single isolated performance.

A New Chapter for Indian Women's Cricket

Mandhana's achievement also reflects the extraordinary progression of Indian women's cricket over the past decade.

She made her India debut in 2013 and has since developed into one of the country's most recognisable and accomplished cricketers. Her record-breaking night in Dubai now places her ahead of Mithali Raj, the player whose career had set the benchmark for women's international run-scoring for much of the previous era.

The transition from Raj to Mandhana at the top of the all-time run charts represents a significant moment for Indian women's cricket.

It is also a reminder of how rapidly the women's game has evolved, with batters now producing increasingly aggressive performances across all three international formats.

History Made, But the Campaign Continues

Mandhana's record came during a tournament that India has entered with strong ambitions.

After defeating Hong Kong by 137 runs, India secured a place in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 semi-finals. The team still has important matches ahead, including the highly anticipated group-stage meeting with Pakistan.

For Mandhana, however, the Hong Kong match will remain a landmark in her career.

10,880 international runs. Eighteen centuries. A record-breaking 124.

With one innings, Smriti Mandhana moved beyond one of Indian cricket's greatest statistical landmarks and established herself as the most prolific run-scorer in the history of women's international cricket.

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