Udaipur, Oct 11, 2025: Indian opener Smriti Mandhana entered the Women’s World Cup 2025 in great form. However, her bat has been quiet in the tournament so far. She scored only 23 runs in her third match of the World Cup against South Africa, taking her total to 54 runs in three matches.

Despite the low scores, Mandhana made history by breaking a 28-year-old world record. She achieved this record during a 55-run opening partnership with Pratik Raval against South Africa. The 29-year-old broke the record set by Australian legend Belinda Clark in 1997. Mandhana has now become the highest run-scorer in a calendar year in women’s cricket.

The Indian cricketer has scored 982 runs in 17 innings at an average of 57.76, including four centuries. With at least five matches left in the tournament, Mandhana is likely to cross the 1,000-run mark in a calendar year. Her four centuries are also the joint second-highest in a calendar year, just one century behind South Africa’s Tjamin Britz.

Women: Most runs in a calendar year

• Smriti Mandhana (India) – 982 runs (2025)
• Belinda Clark (Australia) – 970 runs (1997)
• Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa) – 882 runs (2022)
• Debbie Hockley (New Zealand) – 880 runs (1997)

Richa Ghosh makes history

The Indian wicketkeeper-batter played a key role with her attacking batting and helped India post a good total. When Richa came to bat, India were struggling at 102/6, but she stayed at the crease and guided the team to 251/9.

During her knock of 94 runs off 77 balls, Richa broke a couple of records. She made the highest score by an Indian wicketkeeper in a Women’s World Cup and also the highest score by any batter at number eight or lower in an ODI World Cup.

Most runs at number eight

• 94 – Richa Ghosh (India) vs South Africa, Visakhapatnam, 2025 World Cup
• 84* – Nadine de Klerk (South Africa) vs India, Visakhapatnam, 2025 World Cup
• 74 – Chloe Tryon (South Africa) vs Sri Lanka, Colombo, 2025
• 69 – Fatima Sana (Pakistan) vs South Africa, Karachi, 2023

IND vs SA match summary

Batting first, India scored 251 runs thanks to Richa Ghosh’s brilliant 94. However, South Africa chased down the target with 7 balls and 3 wickets remaining, led by Nadine de Klerk’s 84 and Laura Wolvaardt’s 70.