Smriti Mandhana Sets New ODI Record with 982 Runs in a Year, Breaks 26-Year-Old Mark

Indian women's cricket team opener Smriti Mandhana made history in the South African match played in Visakhapatnam on Friday. Mandhana has become the record-highest run-scorer in ODIs in a calendar year and broke a 26-year-old record. Mandhana made 23 runs in 33 balls against South Africa. As soon as she scored her 11th run, she became the highest run-scorer in ODIs in a calendar year. Mandhana has scored 982 runs in 17 innings of 17 ODIs this year, including four centuries and three half-centuries.

Previously, this record was held by Australian Blenda Clark. Clark scored 970 runs in 1997. South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt is third on the list with 882 runs in 2022. Mandhana has a chance to score 1,000 or more runs in a calendar year, and she could achieve this feat in this World Cup.

Although Mandhana's form remains a concern for the Indian team. She was in tremendous form in the ODI series against Australia before the World Cup, scoring several centuries, but her bat has remained silent so far in the World Cup. In this match, when she was batting on 23, it seemed as if she was heading for a big score. However, her poor form continued, and after a good start, she once again failed to score big.

Mandhana managed only 8, 23, and 23 runs in three World Cup matches. Her failure is weakening the Indian team's batting and causing problems. If the Indian team is to do well in the tournament, Mandhana will have to return to form. The Indian team has defeated weak teams like Pakistan and Sri Lanka so far in this World Cup. If Mandhana's form doesn't improve, Team India may face difficulties against teams like Australia, New Zealand, and England.