India’s women’s cricket team made history by scoring their highest-ever ODI total of 435/5 against Ireland in Rajkot on Wednesday, surpassing the men’s record of 418/5 against the West Indies in 2011. This victory also moved India into the elite group of teams to reach 400 Women’s ODIs, alongside New Zealand and Australia.
Smriti Mandhana led the charge with a scorching 135 off 80 balls, becoming the quickest Indian woman to achieve a century in under 70 balls. She smashed Harmanpreet Kaur’s previous record of 87 balls to get her tenth ODI century, joining legends such as Australia’s Meg Lanning and New Zealand’s Suzie Bates.
Mandhana’s form has been outstanding in 2024, with 996 runs at an average of 62.25, including five centuries. Her stunning performance was aided by Pratika Rawal, who scored her first ODI century off 100 balls. The duo combined for a record 233-run opening stand, India’s third-highest in ODIs.
Richa Ghosh added a quick 59 from 42 balls to keep the momentum going. Rawal also set a record of 444 runs in her first six One-Day Internationals, averaging 74.
India’s aggressive batting rewrites history in Women’s ODIs, cementing its dominance.
