Sizzling Smriti: First in women’s cricket to score 1,000 ODI runs in a calendar year

Smriti Mandhana etched her name in history by becoming the first player in women’s cricket to score 1,000 ODI runs in a single calendar year. The landmark moment came during India’s Women’s World Cup 2025 clash against Australia at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, when she crossed 18 runs by lofting Sophie Molineux for a six in the eighth over. The 29-year-old surpassed Belinda Clark’s 1997 record of 970 runs during the previous match against South Africa. So far in 2025, Mandhana has scored four centuries and three fifties, though her World Cup form had been modest before this game, with scores of 8, 23, and 23.

Mandhana is currently the fifth-highest run-scorer in women’s ODIs, trailing Mithali Raj, Charlotte Edwards, Suzie Bates, and Stafanie Taylor. She also shares the second-highest number of centuries in women’s ODIs with Bates. Notably, in her last encounter with Australia, she set the record for the fastest century by an Indian — reaching the milestone in just 50 balls, surpassing Virat Kohli’s 52-ball record. This is her third World Cup, having been part of the 2017 squad that finished as runners-up.

Australia win toss; opt to bowl first against India

Australia Women's skipper Alyssa Healy won the toss and elected to bowl first against India Women in the 13th clash of the ongoing ICC Women's World Cup 2025, which is being played at ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatanam on Sunday.

With both teams having played three games apiece, Australia has won two and has a no-result to its name, while hosts India has two wins and a loss to its name. Australia and India are currently placed second and third, respectively, in the standings, just below England, who topped the tally with their third successive win of the tournament over Sri Lanka on Saturday.

After winning the toss, Alyssa Healy said, "We're going to bowl. Got dewy last evening while training. Hopefully can slide on the bat. Just one change. Molineux is back and Wareham misses out. Nice to have Soph back. At some point during World Cups, you just need to get what needs to be done and get the win. But when you come up against a really good opposition like India, you need to put everything together. My first time back in Vizag since 2011. Should be a great atmosphere. Got a bit of Aussie support. Girls are pumped for that."

At the time of the toss, India Women's captain Harmanpreet Kaur said, " Pitch looks better than what we had in the last game--same XI. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. It's about how you bounce back. We were there in the game for 95 overs, lots of positives for us. They've always been important for us. Always been nice, cheering the team day and night. Biggest part in our lives that we're getting this support."

Teams:

Australia Women (Playing XI): Alyssa Healy (wk/c), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Kim Garth, Alana King, Megan Schutt

India Women (Playing XI): Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani.(With inputs from Agencies)