Smriti Mandhana scripts history at Asian Games 2026

India opener Smriti Mandhana became the leading run-scorer in women’s T20Is, surpassing New Zealand great Suzie Bates’ tally of 4,758 runs during India’s Asian Games semifinal against Bangladesh on Sunday.

The 30-year-old elegant left-hander needed seven runs to break the record as she reached the landmark in the third over, hammering Bangladesh pacer Marufa Akter for back-to-back boundaries off the final two deliveries of the over.

The feat came during the second semifinal T20I cricket match between India’s women and Bangladesh’s women in the ongoing Asian Games 2026 at Nisshin.