Cricket / Asian Games 2026: Smriti Mandhana Creates History, Hits 11K Milestone
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Smriti Mandhana became the first women’s cricketer to reach 11,000 international runs, achieving the milestone in the Asian Games final against Sri Lanka, continuing her record‑breaking spree within three days.
Nisshin, Sep 22: Smriti Mandhana’s dream run continued on Tuesday as the India vice-captain reached yet another milestone — second in three days — during the Asian Games gold medal clash with Sri Lanka at Korogi Sports Park.
Adding another feather to her illustrious cap, Mandhana became the first women’s cricketer to complete 11,000 runs in international cricket.
Mandhana had entered the final with 10,987 runs across formats — 788 in Tests, 5,411 in ODIs, and 4,788 in T20Is — needing just 13 runs to reach the elusive mark.
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✨She wasted no time, racing off the blocks with two boundaries in the opening over before a towering six in the third sealed her entry into the 11K club.
This achievement follows closely on the heels of her record‑breaking spree. Only recently, Mandhana surpassed former India captain Mithali Raj’s tally of 10,868 runs to become the highest run‑scorer across formats in women’s cricket during the Asia Cup.
She also became the leading run‑scorer in T20I cricket across both men’s and women’s games, overtaking New Zealand great Suzie Bates with a 37‑run knock against Bangladesh in the Asian Games semifinal.
As India sought to defend their gold medal, they went unchanged into the final, opting to bat first against Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan side, also unchanged, were chasing history of their own — a maiden Asiad gold.
The clash carried added significance as it was a rematch of both the 2023 Asian Games final and the recent Women’s Asia Cup, where India had prevailed.
India reached the final after convincing wins over Japan and Bangladesh, while Sri Lanka defeated Malaysia and Pakistan to set up the showdown. The island nation, two‑time medallists at the Asiad, had previously won bronze in 2014 and silver in 2022.
India, meanwhile, had only one prior appearance in the continental cricket event — the 2023 edition — where they clinched gold.
Playing XIs:
Sri Lanka Women: Imesha Dulani, Chamari Athapaththu(c), Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Hansima Karunaratne, Kaushani Nuthyangana(w), Mithali Ayodhya, Kawya Kavindi, Chamudi Praboda, Sugandika Kumari
India Women: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Gunalan Kamalini, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Richa Ghosh(w), Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil, Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma, Kranti Gaud
(IANS)
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