NEW DELHI: India’s batting superstar Smriti Mandhana has become the leading run-scorer in women’s international cricket after smashing a record-breaking 124 off 64 balls in the Women’s Asia Cup in Dubai.

Mandhana overtook former India skipper Mithali Raj, who had been the top international scorer with 10,868 international runs, during her match-winning innings against Hong Kong on Thursday.

It also sealed India’s place in the semi-finals of the T20 tournament.

The 30-year-old also became the leading century-maker in women’s international cricket, with 18 hundreds across formats, overtaking Australia’s Meg Lanning and South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt, who have 17 each.

“It’s just the start,” the India vice-captain said after the game.

Mandhana has two centuries each in Tests and T20Is, and 14 in one-day internationals.

“Until I was batting, I didn’t know what record, because I didn’t know what’s the exact runs,” Mandhana said, according to Indian sports outlet Sportstar.

“A very good day for Indian cricket, I would say,” she added.

She also heaped praise on Mithali Raj as a “legend and a role model”.

Mandhana’s knock featured 14 fours and seven sixes as India piled up 193-5 before bowling out Hong Kong for 56 to secure a 137-run victory.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2026