Dubai: Star Indian opener Smriti Mandhana is on the brink of etching her name in the history books as the Indian women’s cricket team gears up to face Bangladesh in the semi-final of the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 on Thursday. Mandhana is just 69 runs away from becoming the all-time highest run-scorer in Women’s T20 Internationals (T20Is), a milestone that would cement her legacy as one of the modern greats of the game.
Currently, the world record is held by New Zealand’s veteran batter Suzie Bates, who has amassed 4,758 runs in 186 T20I matches at an average of 28.83. Mandhana is breathing down her neck with 4,690 runs from 174 appearances, boasting an impressive average of 30.65. The elegant left-handed batter’s stellar T20I career includes two centuries and 35 half-centuries, studded with 634 boundaries and 95 sixes.
If Mandhana successfully breaches the 69-run mark against Bangladesh, she will dethrone Bates from the summit. Meanwhile, Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur holds the third position on this elite list with 4,249 runs in 205 matches, followed closely by Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu, who has scored 4,095 runs in 168 games.
Mandhana is already enjoying a dominant run of form in the ongoing Women’s Asia Cup 2026. She currently tops the tournament’s run-scoring charts with 152 runs in three matches at a staggering average of 50.67. Her campaign features a breathtaking knock of 124 runs off just 64 balls against Hong Kong, an innings glittering with 14 boundaries and seven massive sixes, making her the only batter to register a century in this edition of the tournament.
Going into the crucial semi-final clash, the ‘Women in Blue’ hold a formidable psychological advantage over their opponents. In their 24 T20I encounters to date, India has completely dominated Bangladesh, securing victories in 21 matches while losing only three. Moreover, India has been on a flawless winning streak against the neighbouring nation, emerging victorious in all eight T20I meetings since September 2023.
As the team prepares for the knockout stage, India’s ultimate goal remains securing a record-extending eighth Women’s Asia Cup title, having previously claimed the trophy four times in the ODI format and three times in the T20 format. All eyes will undoubtedly be on Mandhana as she steps onto the pitch, looking to propel her team to the finals while chasing a monumental personal milestone.