South Africa women’s cricket team is on a tour of India for 3 ODIs, a one-off Test, and 3 T20Is. While India dominated the ODI series 3-0, the one-off Test match began on June 28, 2024, at M. Chinnaswamy in Chennai. During this match, Smriti Mandhana edged past 500 runs in Test cricket, making her the 9th Indian woman to reach this landmark.
She has become the second-fastest Indian woman to score 500 Test runs in terms of matches played. This achievement not only highlights Mandhana’s skill and consistency but also underscores her growing importance in the Indian women’s cricket team.
Smriti made her Test debut on August 13, 2014, against England during India women’s tour of England in Wormsley. In that match, Mandhana scored 22 runs in the first innings and made her maiden Test half-century in the second innings, scoring 51 runs and making her mark in the red-ball format.
🚨 Smriti Mandhana completes 500 Test Runs.
Becomes 9th Indian to do so. 🔥#CricketTwitter #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/FcDQu7lFgb
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) June 28, 2024
Since then, she hasn’t looked back, consistently chasing greater heights in Test cricket. She has scored 3 half-centuries and 1 century thus far. Her second half-century came against England on June 16, 2021, during India women’s tour of England in Bristol, where she scored 78 runs. Her third half-century was against Australia on December 21, 2023, during Australia women’s tour of India at Wankhede.
Her best batting innings came against Australia on September 30, 2021, during India women’s tour of Australia in Carrara, where she showcased her batting class, thrashing the Australian bowlers and scoring 127 runs with the help of 22 boundaries and 1 six, but this match ended in a draw.
Mandhana is an exceptional batter who has made a habit of scoring big runs consistently. She has etched her name in the record books by becoming the second-fastest Indian woman to score 500 runs in just 7 matches. Sandhya Agarwal holds the first position, having completed 500 Test runs in just 5 matches. Mandhana has also entered the list of batters who scored 500 runs, grabbing the 9th position among the top 10 batters.
Smriti Mandhana’s achievement of 500 Test runs, and the speed at which she reached this milestone, cements her status as one of India’s premier batters in the longest format of the game. This record not only reflects her individual brilliance but also highlights the growing strength and depth of Indian women’s cricket.
As Mandhana continues to break barriers and set new benchmarks, her performances inspire the next generation of cricketers and contribute significantly to the advancement of women’s cricket in India. Her success serves as a testament to her hard work, talent, and the evolving landscape of women’s Test cricket in the country.