Smriti Mandhana Becomes Youngest and Fastest to 5,000 ODI Runs in Women’s Cricket

Visakhapatnam, Oct 2025 : Indian opener Smriti Mandhana etched her name in the record books on Sunday, becoming the youngest and fastest player to reach 5,000 runs in Women’s ODI cricket. She achieved the feat during India’s Women’s World Cup clash against Australia at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.

The 29-year-old reached the milestone in just her 112th ODI appearance, smashing a six off Australia’s Kim Garth in the 21st over. With this, she surpassed the previous record held by Stafanie Taylor of the West Indies, who reached 5,000 runs in 129 matches.

According to ESPNCricinfo, the updated list of fastest players to 5,000 ODI runs now features Mandhana at the top (112 matches), followed by Taylor (129), Suzie Bates of New Zealand (136), Mithali Raj of India (144), and Charlotte Edwards of England (156).

Mandhana played a scintillating knock of 80 runs off 66 balls, laced with nine fours and three sixes, before being caught at deep midwicket off Sophie Molineux. After a steady start, she shifted gears post her half-century — which came off 46 balls — showcasing her trademark fluency and timing.

The Indian vice-captain has been in sublime form throughout the season, amassing 974 runs, the highest by any woman cricketer in a calendar year. Sunday’s innings marked her first fifty of the 2025 Women’s World Cup, signalling a strong return to form after a subdued start where she managed just 54 runs across the first three matches.

Mandhana’s dominance against Australia continues, as she had earlier scored 300 runs, including two centuries, in the three-match ODI series between the two sides prior to the World Cup.

Her latest achievement cements her status as one of the finest batters in modern women’s cricket — combining elegance, aggression, and consistency to become the fastest to 5,000 runs in the history of the women’s game.