Image: Smriti Mandhana set a record for the fastest ODI century by an Indian woman / © Business Standard
In the recent ODI series against Ireland, Smriti Mandhana made history by scoring the fastest-ever century by an India Women’s player, reaching the landmark in just 70 balls. This century, her 10th in ODIs, not only made her the first Indian woman to hit double-digit centuries in the format but also broke Harmanpreet Kaur’s previous record of an 87-ball century.
| Player Name | Opposition | Balls Faced |
|---|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana | Ireland | 70 |
| Harmanpreet Kaur | South Africa | 87 |
| Harmanpreet Kaur | Australia | 90 |
| Jemimah Rodrigues | Ireland | 90 |
| Harleen Deol | West Indies | 98 |
Mandhana’s blistering knock took place at the Saurashtra Cricket Stadium, where she dominated the Irish bowlers right from the start. She surpassed English cricketer Nat Sciver-Brunt, who had also scored nine centuries before this match.
Mandhana’s achievement brings her closer to the record for the most ODI centuries in women’s cricket, currently held by Meg Lanning with 15 centuries. In addition to this remarkable feat, Mandhana also became the fastest Indian woman to 4000 ODI runs, surpassing the legendary Mithali Raj. With her explosive batting performance, Mandhana has solidified her place as one of the brightest stars in world cricket, adding to her already impressive career.