Indian cricket player Smriti Mandhana has become the first to break the 28-year-old record that former Australian batter Belinda Clark previously held.
Despite a low-key performance in India’s Women’s World Cup match against South Africa, Mandhana’s milestone has garnered worldwide attention. She is now the record holder in the most runs in Women’s One-Day Internationals (WODIs) achieved in a calendar year, which has placed her on the crest of cricket history.
Smriti Mandhana Shatters Belinda Clark’s 28-Year-Old Record
On Thursday, while playing in India’s Women’s World Cup game against South Africa, Smriti Mandhana has become the highest run-getter in WODIs in a calendar year. Though she was herself out for just 23 runs in this game, her overall total for the year has now risen to a whopping 982 runs, breaking Belinda Clark’s old record of 970 runs in 1997.
Mandhana’s consistency and aplomb with the bat this year contributed greatly to her historic accomplishment, with four of those ten outings being centuries and three fifties. Mandhana’s remarkable batting average of 57.76 and strike rate of 112.22 in 2025 from 17 matches proves that she is still a dangerous player in women’s cricket.
The Top Scorers in WODIs in a Calendar Year
Smriti Mandhana (2025) – 982 runs
Belinda Clark (1997) – 970 runs
Laura Wolvaardt (2022) – 882 runs
Deborah Ann Hockley (1970) – 880 runs
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Amy Ella Satterthwaite (2016) – 853 runs
Smriti Mandhana’s Tribulations in the 2025 Women’s World Cup
Mandhana’s record-breaking season has certainly yielded many highs, but her form in the Women’s World Cup is less than ideal. She has contributed just 8 runs vs Sri Lanka, 23 runs vs Pakistan and 23 runs vs South Africa.
These innings have been a notch below what is expected of her, and she will be keen to get into the groove of things in the remainder of the matches to contribute to India’s World Cup cause.
India’s Match Against South Africa
India, after losing Mandhana early in their innings, was on the verge of collapse, tottering at 102/6 at one point. But Richa Ghosh’s heroic innings came to the rescue of the Women in Blue. Ghosh’s excellent innings of 94 runs took India to a fighting score of 251.
She played a key role in anchoring the innings, first with Amanjot Kaur, and then in a game-changing 88-run partnership with Sneh Rana. Although she was denied a deserving century, Ghosh has given India a fighting chance in the match.
Smriti Mandhana’s Role in India’s World Cup Journey
Though Mandhana’s run in 2025 was a high point in her career, she now has to focus on returning to form in the ongoing Women’s World Cup.
With India struggling in the tournament, her input will be essential for India to go forward. Mandhana’s experience, tactical awareness, and tenacity will play a crucial role in India’s success in the World Cup moving forward.
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