More than a cricketer: Smriti Mandhana makes TIME’s 100 most influential people in sports 2026

Indian cricket star Smriti Mandhana has achieved another major milestone after being named in TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026, becoming the only Indian to feature on this year’s prestigious global list. The annual ranking celebrates athletes, coaches and sports leaders shaping the future of world sport.

Mandhana joins an elite group featuring LeBron James, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Alcaraz, Rory McIlroy and several international sporting legends.

TIME highlighted Mandhana’s remarkable achievements, calling attention to her record-breaking journey in women’s cricket. The publication noted that she became the first Indian woman to score a double century in a domestic one-day match and the first to register centuries across all three international formats.

The 29-year-old also led Royal Challengers Bangalore to Women’s Premier League titles and played a key role in India’s recent ICC Women’s World Cup success, strengthening her place among cricket’s global icons.