Smriti Mandhana becomes leading run-scorer in Women’s T20Is during Asian Games semifinal

Smriti Mandhana became the highest run-scorer in Women’s T20Is during the Asian Games 2026 semifinal against Bangladesh, reaching the milestone recently. She scored 37 off 18 balls in that match and overtook New Zealand’s Suzie Bates to move to the top of the list.

The T20 format has seen increasing run-scoring as global events such as the Women’s T20 World Cup and the Asian Games bring top sides together, and India have supplied a number of consistent performers. India’s Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur are highlighted among those players; Mandhana earlier in September became the highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket across formats after surpassing Mithali Raj’s tally.

New Zealand’s Sophie Devine ranks fifth on the Women’s T20I run-scoring list with 3,817 runs. The former New Zealand captain has one century and 24 half-centuries in the format and is noted for scoring quickly in T20 cricket.

Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu occupies fourth place with 4,282 runs from 169 innings. Athapaththu has four centuries—more than any of the other top-five batters—and 16 half-centuries; she is a left-handed opener for Sri Lanka in the shortest format.

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur is third on the list with 4,287 runs, having played 186 innings and recorded one century and 18 half-centuries. Suzie Bates, who held the Women’s T20I run-scoring record before Mandhana, finished with 4,758 runs from 178 innings and has one century and 28 half-centuries.

Mandhana entered the Asian Games semifinal against Bangladesh with 4,788 runs and required eight more to pass Bates; she reached the mark in the third over of the innings and did so in her 171st T20I innings, while Bates had taken 178 innings to reach 4,758. Mandhana’s T20I totals include two centuries and 36 half-centuries.

The top five run-scorers in Women’s T20Is are Smriti Mandhana, Suzie Bates, Harmanpreet Kaur, Chamari Athapaththu and Sophie Devine.