Dubai: Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana cemented her legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats on Thursday by smashing a scintillating 64-ball 124 against Hong Kong in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026. Her sensational knock not only powered India to a formidable 193 for 5 but also shattered multiple long-standing world records, including Mithali Raj’s monumental tally of international runs.
Playing the seventh match of the tournament at the Dubai International Stadium, Mandhana initially took her time adapting to a pitch that offered significant assistance to the bowlers early on. The left-handed opener anchored the innings while her partner Shafali Verma took the aggressive route, stitching together a quick 50-run stand off 34 balls before Verma departed for 28.
After grinding her way to a half-century in a measured 40 deliveries, Mandhana spectacularly shifted gears. Displaying ruthless acceleration, she blasted her next 50 runs in a mere 17 balls to reach her century in 57 deliveries. Her explosive innings, heavily laced with 14 boundaries and seven towering sixes, eventually culminated at 124 runs.
This marked her second century in T20 Internationals, making her the very first Indian player to score a hundred in the history of the Women’s Asia Cup. She also eclipsed Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu’s 2024 record of 119 runs to register the highest individual score ever recorded in the continental tournament.
Beyond the Asia Cup milestones, the innings completely rewrote global record books. By piling on the runs against Hong Kong, Mandhana officially surpassed the legendary Mithali Raj’s historic tally of 10,868 runs, claiming the crown as the highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket.
Furthermore, her breathtaking century on Thursday was her 18th across all formats—comprising 14 in ODIs, two in Tests, and two in T20Is. This historic milestone pushed her past Australian great Meg Lanning and South African captain Laura Wolvaardt, who previously shared the top spot with 17 international centuries each.
Mandhana’s record-breaking spectacle has firmly put the Indian team in a commanding position in the ongoing tournament, while her unprecedented individual achievements continue to reaffirm her absolute dominance in modern-day women’s cricket.