When Smriti Mandhana stroked her way to a 77-ball century against Australia on September 17, 2025, it was more than just another glittering knock.
It was a statement of intent, a redefinition of what greatness looks like in Indian women’s cricket, and perhaps the clearest signal yet that Mandhana has claimed the crown as India’s finest ODI batter. That innings in Mullanpur, carved with 14 fours and 4 sixes for a match-winning 117 off 91 balls, came just days after she reclaimed the number one spot in the ICC ODI rankings. For many, it was the culmination of a career trajectory that had been building steadily since her teenage years, but for Indian cricket, it marked the dawn of a new era one where aggression, consistency, and elegance coexist at the top of the order.
The 77-Ball Masterclass: A Benchmark of Dominance
The Mullanpur century was not just about numbers; it was about context. India were a match down in the series, and Mandhana had already shown form with a fifty in the opener. Her ability to anchor the innings early and then accelerate ferociously reaching her fifty in 45 balls and her hundred in 77 was a tactical masterclass.
This was the second-fastest ODI hundred ever scored by an Indian woman. The fastest? Also by Mandhana, earlier in 2025 against Ireland in Rajkot. She now holds both records, evidence of her transformation into a batter who dictates terms rather than reacts to them. And she didn’t just do it against anyone she did it against Australia. For decades, greatness in women’s cricket has been measured by how one performs against the world champions, and Mandhana’s third ODI century against them places her in an elite club. She is now the Asian batter with the most hundreds against Australia, a mark of both skill and temperament under pressure.
As of September 2025, Mandhana has scored 12 ODI centuries. They are not clustered in home comforts but spread across continents from Taunton to Colombo, Rajkot to Perth. Each landmark innings strengthens the argument that she is a world-class player who thrives in all conditions. Her 2024 season was particularly extraordinary: four centuries in 13 matches, breaking the record for most runs in a calendar year by an Indian woman. And in typical Mandhana fashion, she reached her 12 centuries faster than anyone else at the top of the order, needing only 106 innings compared to Tammy Beaumont’s 113 and Suzie Bates’ 130.
Beyond ODIs, Mandhana is the only Indian woman to have centuries in all three formats a feat that places her among the global elite.
A Global Standard of Excellence
Mandhana’s 12 ODI hundreds put her joint-third on the all-time list, behind only Meg Lanning (15) and Suzie Bates (13). At just 29, with years still ahead of her, the prospect of her surpassing both is very real. She has already become the face of modern Indian batting, blending classical strokeplay with the power and tempo demanded by the modern game. Her ICC accolades including two Women’s Cricketer of the Year awards and the 2025 ODI Cricketer of the Year further cement her stature as not just India’s best but one of the world’s very best.
The debate over India’s greatest women’s batter inevitably brings Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur into the conversation.
Mithali Raj was the pioneer, the anchor of Indian cricket for over two decades, amassing 7,805 ODI runs at an average of 50.68. Her greatness was rooted in longevity and consistency, in holding the innings together when the sport was still carving its place in the Indian consciousness.
Harmanpreet Kaur is the icon of big moments. Her 171* against Australia in the 2017 World Cup semi-final remains one of cricket’s most iconic innings. She is the epitome of clutch performances and fearless aggression, also shaping the team as captain.
Smriti Mandhana stands apart as the modern great. Her 12 centuries in just 107 matches outpace both Raj’s seven in 232 and Kaur’s seven in 150. She blends consistency with explosiveness, and her record against Australia gives her claim an edge of legitimacy no statistic can deny. Where Raj gave stability and Kaur gave fire, Mandhana has given Indian cricket a complete package a stylish left-hander who scores quickly, scores big, and scores often.
So, has Smriti Mandhana already become India’s greatest ODI batter? The evidence overwhelmingly suggests yes. Her statistical superiority, her record against the world’s best, her list of firsts, and her influence on the evolution of India’s batting all point in one direction.
Yet, greatness is not just about numbers. Mithali Raj’s pioneering role and Harmanpreet Kaur’s unforgettable moments have an emotional weight that records cannot replace. Mandhana’s task is longevity if she continues this trajectory for another five years, she will not just be India’s greatest ODI batter, she will be one of the greatest the world has ever seen.
Smriti Mandhana’s journey is still being written, but already, her name is etched into cricketing folklore. Her 77-ball hundred against Australia was not just an innings; it was a coronation. The crown of India’s ODI batting belongs to her now not as an heir-apparent, but as the reigning queen.
If her career so far is any indication, the records she will leave behind may redefine what future generations believe is possible for an Indian batter.
