Smriti Mandhana has become the highest run-scorer in women's T20 international cricket, overtaking New Zealand great Suzie Bates during India's Asian Games 2026 semi-final against Bangladesh on September 20. The milestone arrived on a day when India also booked a place in the gold-medal match with a dominant 114-run victory.
The ICC confirmed that Mandhana moved past Bates at the top of the all-time Women's T20I run chart. Mandhana scored 37 from 19 balls in the semi-final before Shafali Verma's 49-ball century powered India to 195/4. Bangladesh were then restricted to 81.
What record did Smriti Mandhana break?
Mandhana surpassed Suzie Bates, who had long occupied the top position among run-scorers in women's T20Is. The achievement is particularly significant because it reflects sustained output across a long international career rather than a single tournament or innings.
The record came in a knockout match rather than a low-stakes fixture. Mandhana attacked from the start against Bangladesh, helping India race through the powerplay before Shafali took over. Her 37 included five fours and two sixes.
Mandhana also reached another notable landmark during the innings, becoming the first Indian woman to hit 100 sixes in T20 internationals. Together, the two milestones underline both her longevity and the more aggressive dimension of her T20 batting.
Mandhana's record came during India's Asian Games semi-final
India's semi-final victory was already one of the biggest results of the tournament. Shafali Verma smashed 100 from only 49 balls, hitting nine sixes as India piled up 195/4. Bangladesh finished on 81, giving India a 114-run win and a place in the Asian Games final against Sri Lanka.
That context matters for Mandhana's record. Rather than slowing down while approaching the landmark, she gave India an aggressive start in a must-win game. Her innings lasted only 19 deliveries but helped establish the tempo for the total that followed.
Why the record matters for Indian women's cricket
Mandhana's rise to No. 1 on the all-time run list adds to a period in which India's women's team has accumulated major individual records alongside tournament success. She has remained one of India's most recognizable batters across formats and has adapted her T20 game as scoring rates across women's cricket have accelerated.
Passing Bates is also a notable benchmark because the New Zealand batter was one of the defining players of the early professional era of women's T20 cricket. The record therefore connects two generations of elite opening batters.
What happens next for Mandhana and India?
India's focus now shifts from individual records to the gold medal. The women's cricket final against Sri Lanka is scheduled for September 22. Headline Thread's Asian Games India schedule and results tracker is following the wider Indian campaign as medal events continue in Japan.
India's campaign has already produced medals away from cricket as well, including the women's 10m air rifle team silver that opened India's medal account. The cricket final now gives Mandhana, Shafali and the rest of the side an opportunity to convert their emphatic semi-final performance into gold.
The bottom line
Smriti Mandhana is now the leading run-scorer in women's T20I history after passing Suzie Bates during India's Asian Games semi-final win over Bangladesh. The record adds another major milestone to Mandhana's career, but the immediate target is clear: India face Sri Lanka next with an Asian Games gold medal at stake.
