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Sports News: Smriti Mandhana created history by smashing her 12th century in One Day Internationals. With this achievement, she equaled the record of New Zealand’s Suzie Bates and England’s Tammy Beaumont. The Indian opener reached the milestone in just 106 innings, proving her extraordinary consistency and ability to deliver under pressure. While Bates took 130 innings and Beaumont needed 113, Mandhana has set a new benchmark for efficiency. Her century came at a crucial stage of the series, making her knock even more valuable.
Mandhana crossed the three-figure mark in just 77 balls, registering the second-fastest ODI century by an Indian woman. Interestingly, the fastest record is also held by her. She had smashed a 70-ball hundred against Ireland in Rajkot, showing that her aggressive batting style has remained her trademark. This latest century also became the second-fastest ever against Australia in women’s ODIs, behind Nat Sciver Brunt’s 79-ball hundred at the 2022 World Cup. Her knock once again displayed her ability to dominate world-class bowling attacks.
This milestone carried another remarkable feat. Mandhana became the first player in women’s ODI history to score three or more centuries in two different calendar years. In 2024, she had already scored four tons, which remains an all-time record. Adding to that legacy in 2025, her current form places her in a league of her own. This rare consistency across years shows her ability to adapt to different conditions and maintain peak performance for a long duration.
Before her dismissal, Mandhana scored a powerful 117 off 91 balls. Her innings included 14 fours and four sixes, displaying her attacking range. She started with a 70-run opening stand alongside Pratika Rawal and later added 49 runs with Harleen Deol for the second wicket. Despite being dismissed by Tahlia McGrath, Mandhana’s knock had already shifted the momentum and set up India’s batting charge. The way she mixed caution with aggression was a masterclass in ODI batting.
With this century, Mandhana climbed to third place in the list of most centuries in women’s ODIs. She now stands behind only Australia’s Meg Lanning, who has 15 centuries, and Bates with 13. Her achievement has put her ahead of several legendary batters, solidifying her place among the greatest names in women’s cricket. She also regained the top spot in the ODI batting rankings, proving her consistency at the international level and making her one of the most feared openers in world cricket.
Mandhana’s achievements extend beyond ODIs. Earlier this year, she scored her maiden T20 International century, becoming the first Indian woman to score hundreds in all three formats of the game. This rare achievement highlights her versatility and dominance in modern cricket. From red-ball cricket to the shortest format, Mandhana has proved her ability to adjust and excel, making her India’s biggest batting star after Mithali Raj’s retirement. Her role as vice-captain has only strengthened her leadership influence on the team.
Mandhana’s century not only boosted India’s performance but also inspired millions of young girls aspiring to play cricket. Her fearless approach, determination, and ability to rewrite records have made her an icon. She has shown that with discipline and talent, Indian women can conquer the world stage. While the team still needs to convert these performances into series wins, Mandhana’s form remains India’s strongest weapon. Her latest knock against Australia will go down as one of the most memorable innings in women’s ODI history.
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