Smriti Mandhana becomes quickest batter to reach 5000-run mark in Women's ODI in clash vs Australia

India’s vice-captain Smriti Mandhana etched her name into cricketing history on Sunday, becoming the fastest batter to reach 5,000 runs in Women’s ODIs.

The 29-year-old batter achieved the feat in just her 112th match during India’s World Cup 2025 encounter against Australia in Visakhapatnam, surpassing legends of the game with her trademark elegance and consistency at the crease.

Mandhana’s record puts her in elite company among the game’s greatest batters. She is now the fifth cricketer in the world to cross the 5,000-run mark in Women’s ODIs, and the quickest to do so, taking just 5,569 balls. By comparison, New Zealand’s Suzie Bates, who achieved the feat in 2022, had faced 6,182 balls to reach the same milestone.

A rare milestone in women’s ODI cricket

The first player ever to breach the 5,000-run barrier in women’s ODIs was England legend Charlotte Edwards, who accomplished the feat in 2013. India’s Mithali Raj followed in 2015, Stafanie Taylor of the West Indies joined in 2021, and Bates became the fourth member of the club the following year.

Mithali Raj remains the all-time highest run-scorer in women’s ODIs, having amassed 7,805 runs in 232 matches over her 23-year career from 1999 to 2022. She is followed by Edwards, Bates, and Taylor in the all-time list, with Mandhana now the latest to join their ranks.

Mandhana also holds a remarkable record against Australia: she has now scored ten 50-plus innings against the Southern Stars, the most by any Indian batter, surpassing Mithali Raj’s nine.

Notably, she has crossed the 50-run mark in each of her last five ODIs against Australia, underlining her dominance against the seven-time world champions.

India vs Australia: Match situation so far

Australia captain Alyssa Healy won the toss and chose to bowl first in the 13th match of the ongoing World Cup, citing evening dew as a likely advantage for batters later in the day. Australia made one change, bringing in Sophie Molineux for Georgia Wareham, while India fielded an unchanged XI from their previous outing.

At the halfway mark of India’s innings, Mandhana’s composed start helped stabilise the hosts after early movement from Australian pacers.

Her landmark moment came amid loud cheers from the Visakhapatnam crowd, which turned out in large numbers to support the home side. With both teams closely matched in the standings — Australia second and India third — the contest holds major significance in shaping the tournament’s semifinal race.