The return of the India Women's team to international cricket was marked by a phenomenal record-breaking performance from star batter Smriti Mandhana. On Sunday, during the first bilateral T20I against Sri Lanka in Visakhapatnam, the elegant left-hander added another historical feat to her glittering career, becoming the first Indian woman to score 4,000 runs in T20 Internationals (T20Is).

This landmark achievement is not just a testament to her longevity but also to her aggressive, impactful style of batting, further solidifying her status as one of the world's best cricketers across all formats.

The New Benchmark for T20 Striking Power

While Mandhana is only the second woman globally to cross the 4,000-run mark—following New Zealand legend Suzie Bates—it is the speed of her accomplishment that truly sets her apart. Mandhana reached the milestone having faced only 3,227 balls, making her the quickest player overall to this landmark in terms of balls taken. She dramatically shattered the previous record held by Bates, who took 3,675 balls for the same feat.

This difference of over 400 balls is a strong indication of Mandhana's high strike rate and her ability to consistently deliver impactful, quick runs for the team. It underscores her role not just as an accumulator of runs, but as a dynamic opener who dictates the pace of the game from the outset. Her contribution in the chase against Sri Lanka, scoring a brisk 25 (25), was enough to take her past the milestone and set a solid foundation for India's comfortable victory.

Cementing a Legacy: Leading the Indian Batting Order

Mandhana’s achievement further highlights the gap between her and the next best Indian batter in the shortest format. Even after reaching 4,006 runs following her brief innings, she stood comfortably ahead of the second-highest run-scorer for India in T20Is, captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who was at 3,654 runs before the match began.

This sustained excellence across various formats has made her the pillar of the Indian batting line-up. Her consistency in T20Is, ODIs, and Tests places her in an elite bracket of international players. Her ability to translate raw talent into monumental numbers is precisely why she is seen as an inspiration and a crucial match-winner for India.

The monumental record achieved in Visakhapatnam, shortly after India's historic ODI World Cup triumph, marks a continuation of her record-breaking spree. It signals the beginning of a new phase of dominance for the star batter, with her sights now firmly set on closing the gap with Suzie Bates' overall run tally and, perhaps, another major landmark—closing in on 10,000 runs in women's international cricket across all formats.
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