Smriti Mandhana Creates New Record, Becomes Second Fastest Indian To Score 2,000 ODI Runs

Smriti Mandhana has by far been a phenomenal batswoman for India. She has the knack of hitting big shots with such ease and her presence has produced a spike in Indian women’s cricket without the shadow of any doubt. Growing from strength to strength, she added one more record to her kitty. She became the second-fastest Indian to score 2,000 runs in ODIs.

The star batswoman shot to prominence when she accomplished the feat during the third and final ODI against West Indies women played at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Wednesday which India comfortably won the match by six wickets. Mandhana looked confident from the word go and channelled her aggression in the right way.

The left-handed batter scored a half-century and then went on to chip in with a 74-run knock (9 fours, 3 sixes). With the way Mandhana was plundering runs, it looked as if India would ace the run-chase with more overs to spare and much to everyone’s expectations, it did happen like that. Mandhana shared a 141-run stand with Jemimah Rodrigues, helping India win the three-match ODI series 2-1.

Smriti Mandhana took 51 innings to achieve the feat

The 23-year-old cricketer has taken 51 games to reach the landmark of 2,000-ODI runs, becoming the third-fastest woman after the likes of Belinda Clark and Meg Lanning to achieve the feat. She has by far scored 2,025 runs in 51 ODIs at an average of 43.08, scoring four centuries and 17 fifties in her ODI career.

It is worth mentioning here that Shikhar Dhawan is the only other Indian batsman to possess the record of fastest Indian to score 2,000 runs in 50-overs cricket. He achieved the feat in just 48 innings.  It should be noted that the former South Africa batsman Hashim Amla holds the record of being the fastest cricketer to 2,000-ODI runs. It took him just 40 innings to achieve the feat.

Australia’s Belinda Clark can take pride in the fact that she is the fastest batswoman to score 2,000 ODI runs in 41 innings. Her teammate Meg Lanning follows next on the list as she took 45 innings to reach the landmark.