Smriti Mandhana created history in the series-opening T20I between India and South Africa in Durban on Friday, becoming the highest run-scorer in T20I cricket among Indians – male or female. She reached the milestone with a single off the second ball of the innings.
Coming into the match, the India vice-captain was tied with Rohit Sharma on 4,231 runs from 151 innings. Sharma had retired after the 2024 men’s T20 World Cup.
Mandhana scored 13 off 14 balls in the match, taking her tally to 4,244 runs from 155 innings at a strike rate of 124.38.
Overall, Mandhana is now the second-highest run-scorer in women’s T20Is.
The record for the most runs in women’s T20Is is held by New Zealand’s Suzie Bates, who has amassed 4,717 runs from 175 innings.
In men’s
T20Is, Pakistan’s Babar Azam holds the record, with 4,596 runs from 136 innings.
| S no | Name | Country | Matches | Innings | Runs |
| 1 | Suzie Bates | New Zealand | 181 | 175 | 4717 |
| 2 | Smriti Mandhana | India | 161 | 155 | 4244 |
| 3 | Harmanpreet Kaur | India | 191 | 170 | 3869 |
| 4 | Chamari Athapaththu | Sri Lanka | 154 | 151 | 3637 |
| 5 | Sophie Devine | New Zealand | 151 | 147 | 3587 |
Top five highest run-getters in Women’s T20Is (Updated till April 17, 2025)
| S no | Name | Country | Matches | Innings | Runs |
| 1 | Babar Azam | Pakistan | 145 | 136 | 4596 |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma | India | 159 | 151 | 4231 |
| 3 | Virat Kohli | India | 125 | 117 | 4188 |
| 4 | Jos Buttler | England | 155 | 143 | 4037 |
| 5 | Paul Stirling | Ireland | 163 | 160 | 3895 |
Top five highest run-getters in men’s T20Is (Updated till April 17, 2026)
India Trail 0-1 In Five-Match Series
India endured a six-wicket defeat in the series opener after being put in to bat first at Kingsmead. The opening duo of Shafali Verma and Mandhana led a good start, adding 46 runs before captain Harmanpreet Kaur top-scored with 47* off 33 to help India to 157/7.
In reply, South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt scored a half-century (51 off 39) while Annerie Dercksen struck an unbeaten 44 off 34 to help the hosts chase down the target with a delivery to spare.
Indian bowlers were lacklustre and ended up conceding 14 extra runs – all via wides.
Trailing 0-1 in the five-match series, India will look to draw level when the two sides meet again at the same venue on Sunday.
