When Smriti Mandhana Danced Through the Covers: Five ODI Innings That Define Her Brilliance

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New Delhi: Smriti Mandhana has become the face of India’s women’s ODI batting. With 13 centuries and 32 half-centuries in just 107 matches, and an average closing in on 48, she has raised the bar for what consistency looks like at the top of the order. The left-hander is no longer just an elegant stroke-maker admired for timing—she is now a run-machine, a big-match player, and a batter who defines India’s intent every time she walks out.  

Here are five innings that capture her growth—knocks that combined artistry and aggression, poise and power, and that carved her legacy as one of the finest openers in the women’s game.

1. 125 off 63 balls vs Australia, Delhi, 2025 – sheer firepower in a chase

In the third ODI against Australia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, Mandhana played perhaps her most destructive innings in 50-over cricket. Chasing a daunting target of 412, she launched into the Australian attack with a breathtaking 125 off just 63 deliveries.  

Her strike rate was close to 200, with boundaries flowing to all parts of the ground. This wasn’t an innings of survival—it was one of audacity. India may have fallen short in the chase, but Mandhana gave the team and the fans genuine belief that a world-record pursuit was within reach. In the context of women’s ODIs, it was not just a century; it was a statement that batting approaches were shifting, and India’s opener was leading that charge.

2. 117 off 91 balls vs Australia, Mullanpur, 2025 – power with patience  

Just days before her whirlwind ton in Delhi, Mandhana showed a different side to her game in the second ODI of the same series in Mullanpur. She scored 117 off 91 balls, a knock that blended controlled aggression with immaculate placement.  

The innings included 14 fours and four sixes, but what stood out was her ability to dictate the tempo of the innings without rushing. She built partnerships, kept rotating the strike, and then accelerated when the moment demanded. The result was a comprehensive Indian win by 102 runs—Australia’s heaviest defeat to India in the format.  

It wasn’t just about the scoreboard; it was about leadership from the top. Mandhana displayed how she could anchor and dominate, all in one innings.

3. 116 off 101 balls vs Sri Lanka, Colombo, Tri-Series Final, 2025 – anchoring a title

When India faced Sri Lanka in the Tri-Series final in Colombo, the pressure was immense. Finals demand calm heads and big runs, and Mandhana delivered both. She crafted a fluent 116 off 101 balls, studded with 15 boundaries and two sixes.  

Her innings was the backbone of India’s imposing total of 342 for 7. Unlike her explosive ton in Delhi, this was about pacing an innings for the team’s cause. She absorbed pressure when wickets fell, built stands in the middle overs, and then unleashed a flurry of boundaries to push the total beyond Sri Lanka’s reach.  

The knock underlined her versatility. This wasn’t just a player chasing milestones—it was a batter taking responsibility in a trophy clash and delivering with authority. India lifted the title, and Mandhana’s innings was its defining moment.

4. 102 off 109 balls vs Australia, Hobart, 2016 – the first big statement

Years before she became the senior pro in India’s line-up, Mandhana announced herself with a century that turned heads around the cricketing world. At just 19, playing against a formidable Australian attack in Hobart, she compiled 102 off 109 balls.  

The innings had none of the raw power of her later knocks but carried an unmistakable calmness. She left deliveries with confidence, punished loose balls with elegance, and stitched partnerships that kept India in the contest.  

For a young player still finding her feet on the international stage, scoring a hundred in Australian conditions was a feat in itself. That knock remains significant—it was proof that India had found a batter who could hold her own against the best in the world.

5. 5. 116 vs Sri Lanka (2018-19) / Other classic innings – consistency over time

While many of her recent knocks have gotten the headlines, Mandhana’s earlier ODI hundreds—like one in the Sri Lanka tour in 2018-19, and several others against South Africa and Ireland—show a pattern of consistency. Her ODI top score is recorded as 136, and she’s collected 13 hundreds and over 4,800 runs at a strike rate and average few can boast.

Other classic centuries – the foundation of consistency  

Beyond the headline-grabbing knocks in 2025 and that breakthrough ton in 2016, Mandhana has compiled several other gems that cement her reputation as a world-class performer. Her highest ODI score of 136 came in the early part of her career, setting up a comfortable Indian win. She has centuries against Sri Lanka, South Africa and Ireland that underline her adaptability across conditions.  

One of her finest came during the 2018-19 tour of Sri Lanka, where she mixed patience with precision to post another century at the top. These knocks may not have carried the drama of record chases or finals, but they were vital in giving India reliable starts and ensuring momentum never dipped.  

Taken together, they showcase her greatest strength—consistency. She has not only played match-winning knocks but has also given India the kind of dependable opening presence that has been the envy of many sides.

A career that keeps growing  

What makes Mandhana’s story remarkable is the evolution. From the composed 102 in Hobart to the blazing 125 in Delhi, she has added layers to her batting. She can now switch seamlessly from anchoring to all-out attack, depending on the team’s needs.  

Her centuries are not just individual milestones but turning points in games. They have come in high-pressure chases, in title clashes, and in series against the toughest opponents. With more than 4,800 runs in ODIs, she has established herself as not only India’s premier batter but also one of the most feared openers globally.  

And yet, the feeling persists that her best is still to come. At 29, she is in her prime, and her recent hundreds suggest she has found the perfect balance of maturity and aggression. Each innings now carries the expectation of something special, and more often than not, she delivers.  

Smriti Mandhana is not just scoring runs; she is reshaping India’s approach to ODIs. Her five standout innings—ranging from the raw grit of her early century in Hobart to the power-packed fireworks of her 125 in Delhi—tell the story of a batter who has grown into a leader, a match-winner, and an icon.  

In women’s cricket, there are few sights more reassuring than Mandhana leaning into a cover drive or lofting one over mid-wicket. These innings are not just memories; they are markers of her journey. And as Indian cricket marches forward, it does so with Smriti Mandhana at the helm of its batting dreams.

This news was originally published on this post .

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