Smriti Mandhana becomes women's T20I top run-scorer as India reach Asian Games final stage

Smriti Mandhana surpassed New Zealand's Suzie Bates to become the leading run-scorer in women's T20Is during India's Asian Games semifinal against Bangladesh on Sunday (September 20, 2026). The mark was achieved in the third over of India's innings at the semifinal.

The 30-year-old left-hander required seven runs to overtake Bates' tally of 4,758 and reached the milestone by striking Bangladesh pacer Marufa Akter for back-to-back boundaries off the final two deliveries of the third over. Mandhana's start was part of a rapid opening phase for India in the semifinal.

Mandhana finished with a 19-ball 37 that included five fours and two sixes, and her quickfire cameo ended on the final ball of the powerplay. Trying to clear the ropes again, she miscued a slog sweep off Akter and was caught by Sobhana Mostary at deep mid-wicket.

By the time she was dismissed, Mandhana had taken the record outright, moving to the top of the women's T20I run charts with 4,788 runs. The record also means India now has two batters inside the top five of women's T20I run-getters, with captain Harmanpreet Kaur occupying third place on that list.

Mandhana is additionally the leading run-scorer in women's international cricket across formats and recently surpassed former India captain Mithali Raj's tally of 10,868 runs during the Women's Asia Cup. Across formats she now has 10,987 international runs — 788 in Tests, 5,411 in ODIs and 4,788 in T20Is — while Bates is third on the all-format list with 10,740 runs.

Mandhana also holds the record for most international centuries in women's cricket after taking that mark outright with a century against Hong Kong, China in the group stage of the recent Women's Asia Cup. Her early assault against Bangladesh contributed to one of India's fastest T20I powerplays; India's score at the end of the powerplay was their fourth-highest in women's T20Is, behind 77 for no loss against the West Indies in 2019, 75 for four against Sri Lanka in 2018 and 73 for two against England earlier this year.

India opted to bat against Bangladesh and the winners will face Sri Lanka in the final; the Islanders defeated Pakistan by eight wickets earlier in the day here.