Smriti Mandhana lit up New Chandigarh with a dazzling 12th ODI century, powering India to 292 against Australia in the second ODI on 17 September 2025. The 29-year-old vice-captain reaffirmed her stature as India’s batting fulcrum ahead of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, smashing a sublime 117 off 91 balls against Alyssa Healy’s Australia. Her century, laced with 14 fours and 4 sixes, stood out as the defining knock of India’s innings, though the hosts were eventually bundled out for 292 before completing their quota of overs.
Mandhana reached her 12th ODI hundred in just her 107th innings, equalling England’s Tammy Beaumont in the all-time tally. More tellingly, she raced to the milestone in 77 balls, marking the second-fastest ODI century by an Indian woman by balls, only bettered by her own 70-ball blitz earlier this year against Ireland. Her fluent strokeplay and immaculate timing kept Australia’s bowlers at bay, with cover drives, flicks, and lofted strokes all in full flow.
Beyond the sparkle of her big hits, Mandhana played the anchor role, stitching together partnerships to keep India’s innings steady:
- A brisk 70-run opening stand with Pratika Rawal
- Followed by a 49-run second-wicket alliance with Harleen Deol (10 from 24)
- A gritty 33-run partnership for the 3rd wicket alongside skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (17 from 26)
- A stabilising 40-run stand for the fourth wicket with Deepti Sharma (40 off 53)
Despite losing partners at intervals, Mandhana ensured India stayed competitive. Her dismissal, courtesy of a mistimed hoick against Tahlia McGrath in the 33rd over of the innings, came at a stage when India were eyeing a push beyond 300.
With this innings, Mandhana now owns 4,763 ODI runs at an average of 47.15 and a strike rate of 88.56, including 32 fifties and 12 hundreds. In the pantheon of Indian women’s cricket, she has become not just a run-machine but also a proven match-shaper, her consistency a vital asset heading into the World Cup.
The Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana (15 centuries) also surpassed the veteran White Ferns all-rounder Suzie Bates (14), placing her 2nd on the list only behind Meg Lanning (17) in terms of the most number of international centuries in the women’s game.
Earlier in the series, Healy’s Australia had chased down 282 with 35 balls to spare to win the opening ODI by eight wickets. Electing to field, at the same venue in New Chandigarh, Healy would have sensed an advantage, but Mandhana altered the script with her counterattacking brilliance. However, disciplined bowling saw India restricted under 300, leaving the contest in the balance against Australia’s formidable chasing unit lined up for a close contest.
However, the Indian bowlers came out with a spring in their step to eventually level the three-match ODI series with a massive 102 run win, handing Australia their heaviest defeat in the format, from a stage where they looked on track to seal the ODI series, before losing their last five wickets for just 56 runs to push the series into a decider on 20th September 2025 in Delhi.
The timing of Mandhana’s hundred, which also earned her the Player of the Match in the 2nd game of the series against Alyssa Healy’s Australia, is symbolic. With the 13th ICC Women’s ODI World Cup (30 September–2 November 2025) less than two weeks away, in India and Sri Lanka, such performances serve as precursors of India’s intent.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s team will open their campaign on 30th September against Sri Lanka, led by skipper Chamari Athapaththu at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati (3 PM IST). For the vice-captain to be firing already is the best preparation India could hope for as they chase a maiden title at home.
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