Smriti Mandhana Earns Historic TIME 100 Sports Honour
Indian cricket has a fresh reason to celebrate today. Smriti Mandhana, the vice captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, has been named in TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026, becoming the only Indian to feature on the prestigious list this year. The recognition lands at the peak of yet another outstanding phase in her career and puts her name alongside some of the biggest stars in global sport.
A Place Among Global Icons
Mandhana finds herself sharing space with names like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, LeBron James, Carlos Alcaraz and South Africa cricket captain Temba Bavuma. For a sport like cricket, which still struggles for the same global spotlight as football or basketball in many parts of the world, having an Indian woman cricketer recognised alongside these legends is a significant moment. It reflects how far women’s cricket has come and how much influence Mandhana now carries both on and off the field.
The Numbers Behind The Honour
The 29 year old left handed opener has built one of the most remarkable records in the modern game. She became the first Indian woman to score a double century in a domestic one day game, the first woman to score a century in all three international formats, and now shares the record for the most international centuries by a woman with 17 to her name. Earlier this year she also became the leading run scorer for India in T20 Internationals across both the men’s and women’s game, a statistic that highlights just how consistent she has been at the top of the order.
Team Titles Mandhana Cherishes Most
Despite all the individual milestones, reports suggest Mandhana takes the most pride in the team success she has helped deliver. She captained Royal Challengers Bangalore to Women’s Premier League titles in both 2024 and 2026, turning the franchise into one of the most feared sides in the competition. She was also vice captain when India lifted the ICC Women’s World Cup last year, finishing as the second highest run scorer in that tournament and playing a key role in one of Indian cricket’s biggest achievements.
Records That Define Her Career
Mandhana set the record for the most international runs across formats by a woman back in 2024, then broke her own record again the following year, a rare feat that few cricketers manage even once in a career. That run of form helped her get crowned BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year for 2025, adding another major honour to an already crowded trophy cabinet. At the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup, she finished as India’s highest run scorer with 434 runs across nine matches, the most by any Indian batter at a single edition of that tournament.
What This Means For Indian Women’s Cricket
Recognition of this kind does more than celebrate one player, it shines a light on the entire ecosystem of women’s cricket in India. Young girls picking up a bat today now have a clear example of how far the sport can take them, both in terms of records and global recognition. Sponsors, broadcasters and cricket boards around the world tend to pay closer attention when a player breaks into lists usually dominated by football and basketball stars, which could open further doors for investment in the women’s game. It also adds weight to the argument that the Women’s Premier League and similar domestic competitions are genuinely producing world class talent capable of standing tall on the biggest global stages.
Looking Ahead
With the Women’s T20 World Cup currently underway in England, all eyes will now be on whether Mandhana can add another major trophy to her growing collection this year. Given her track record of delivering on the biggest stages, there is every reason to believe she will continue building on this landmark recognition rather than treating it as a peak. Teammates and rivals alike will be watching to see how she carries this new spotlight into the tournament, knowing that another standout performance could push the conversation around her legacy even further. For Indian cricket fans, this TIME 100 honour feels less like a surprise and more like the natural next step in an extraordinary career that still appears to be climbing toward new heights.”
Written by 8JJ.com | June 22, 2026
Stay updated with 8JJ for Real-Time Sports Scores & Sports Related Updates
🔗 Visit our other platforms:
8jjSports.com
