In the absence of regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Indian Women’s stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana created history in India Women’s cricket in the Women’s T20I format after recording a match-winning century in the five-match WT20I series opener against the hosts England Women on Saturday (28th June).
After the hosts sent the visitors to bat first, stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana controlled the first innings strongly, as her century guided India Women to score 210/5 in 20 overs. Mandhana had a 77-run opening partnership with Shafali Verma, who scored 20 off 22 balls.
Then, Mandhana had a 94-run partnership with Harleen Deol for the second wicket. Deol scored 43 off 23 balls with the help of seven fours.
Meanwhile, after completing 50 runs in 27 balls, the Indian skipper Mandhana completed her maiden WT20I century in 51 balls. Before getting out in the final over of the innings, Mandhana scored 112 off 62 balls with 15 fours and three sixes.
Here are some key stats of the captain Smriti Mandhana’s memorable maiden WT20I century
After captain Harmanpreet Kaur (103 vs New Zealand Women in 2018), stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana became the second Indian to record a WT20I century.
With 112 runs, Mandhana holds the record for the highest score by an Indian in Women’s T20I history. The previous record was 103 by the skipper Harmanpreet Kaur against New Zealand Women during the ICC Women’s World T20 2018.
Mandhana became the first Indian cricketer to record at least one century in each of three formats in international women’s cricket (Women’s Test, Women’s ODI, and Women’s T20I). Before this WT20I century, the left-handed batter had already recorded two WTest centuries and 11 WODI hundreds.
India Women thrashed England Women by 97 runs
Later, England Women were bundled out for only 113 runs in 14.5 overs, as India Women have taken a 1-0 lead in the five-match away WT20I series after winning the series opener by 97 runs. The WT20I debutant Shree Charani picked up four wickets (3.5-0-12-4), while only the English skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt managed to reach the 15-run mark by scoring the only fighting knock of the innings, 66 off 42 balls with 10 fours.
Here are some more key stats of the match
India Women scored 210/5. It was the second-highest WT20I total for India Women. Their record is 217/4 against West Indies at DY Patil Stadium on 19 December 2024.
WT20I debutant Shree Charani had the bowling figures of 3.5-0-12-4. Those were the second-best bowling figures by an Indian WT20I debutant. The record is 3-0-9-4 by Sravanthi Naidu against Bangladesh Women at Cox’s Bazar on 9 March 2014.
India Women won by 97 runs. It was their fourth-largest WT20I win by runs.
India Women’s largest WT20I wins (by runs)
Winning margin (by runs) | Opposition | Venue | Date |
142 runs | Malaysia Women | Kuala Lumpur | 3 June 2018 |
104 runs | UAE Women | Sylhet | 4 October 2022 |
100 runs | Barbados Women | Birmingham | 3 August 2022 |
97 runs | England Women | Nottingham | 28 June 2025 |
84 runs | West Indies Women | Gros Islet | 9 November 2019 |
