Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh Lead India to Record-Breaking T20I Victory
India’s women’s cricket team delivered an outstanding performance against West Indies in the third T20I held in Navi Mumbai, setting multiple records in the process. Their total of 217 for 4 is now the highest by the Indian women’s team in T20Is, surpassing their previous best of 201 for 5 scored against the UAE earlier this year in the Asia Cup. This total also stands as the highest against the West Indies in women’s T20Is, overtaking Australia’s 212 for 6 at North Sydney Oval in 2023. Moreover, it is the highest women’s T20I score achieved on Indian soil, breaking Australia’s record of 209 for 4 against England in the 2018 tri-series final.
Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues laid a solid foundation with a brisk partnership, while Mandhana, in particular, continued her stellar form by scoring her third consecutive half-century. She smashed 77 runs, marking her 30th fifty-plus score in T20Is, a record among women cricketers. This achievement places her ahead of Suzie Bates, who has 29 such scores, including a century. Eight of Mandhana’s 30 T20I fifties have come in 2024, making this her most prolific year.
In addition to Mandhana’s heroics, Richa Ghosh delivered an explosive performance, racing to a fifty in just 18 balls. This equals the record for the fastest fifty in women’s T20Is, previously achieved by Sophie Devine in 2015 against India and Phoebe Litchfield in 2023 against West Indies. Before this, the fastest fifty by an Indian batter in the format was scored by Mandhana herself off 24 balls in 2019 against New Zealand.
Mandhana’s tally of 763 runs in T20Is this year is another record. She now holds the highest run aggregate in a calendar year in women’s T20Is, surpassing Chamari Athapaththu’s 720 runs in the same year. Mandhana also became only the second Indian batter, after Mithali Raj, to register fifty-plus scores in three or more consecutive T20I innings. Mithali achieved this feat four times between 2016 and 2018.
India’s batting prowess has been a standout feature of their performances in 2024. They are one of only seven teams in women’s T20Is to have scored multiple 200-plus totals in a single calendar year. Among Full Member nations, only Australia has accomplished this feat before, with three such scores in 2019.
The match also witnessed a barrage of sixes, with India and West Indies smashing a combined 14 maximums, the joint-second highest in women’s T20Is. The highest remains 15 sixes hit during a match between South Africa and India in Potchefstroom in 2018. Additionally, the combined 374 runs scored by both teams in this match ranks as the joint-sixth highest aggregate in the format.
West Indies bowler Deandra Dottin had a tough day, conceding 54 runs, the most by a West Indian bowler in a women’s T20I. The previous record was held by Aaliyah Alleyne, who conceded 53 runs against Australia in 2023.
India’s dominant display in Navi Mumbai highlights the team’s consistent improvement and ability to set new benchmarks. Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh’s performances underscore the depth and power in the Indian batting lineup, while the team’s record-breaking totals reflect their aggressive intent. As the Indian women’s team continues to raise the bar, their fans can look forward to more remarkable feats in the future.