The Indian women’s cricket team under Harmanpreet Kaur’s captaincy triumphed over New Zealand in the 3-match home ODI series. The main praise should be given to the match-winning century from the opening batter Smriti Mandhana who guided the women-in-blue to a 6-wicket victory in the third ODI match on 29th October 2024 (Tuesday). She established her name in the record books with her noteworthy 122-ball-centuries in the series decider match played at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad that helped her team seal the series with a 2-1.
However, it is a great comeback and a motivating win for Team India after failing to qualify for the knockout stages of the recently concluded Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Smriti Mandhana became the first Indian women cricketer to achieve 8 centuries in the 50-over format and surpasses the former Indian batter Mithali Raj’s lifetime exceptional record.
You might wonder if legendary women cricketers like Punam Raut and Thirush Kamini rank in the list of five Indian batters with the most ODI hundreds. Let’s take a deeper look at the other four female cricketers who rank after Smriti Mandhana to achieve this rare feat.
1. Smriti Mandhana: 8 Centuries
For the past decade, Smriti Mandhana has been one of the most promising talents that the women’s team has ever produced. The Indian vice-captain amassed 3,690 runs in 88 ODI innings at an average of 45.00 and a strike rate of 84.92.
She recently scored her 8th ODI century in a must-win run-chase against the white ferns in the last and third match of the series.
After a disciplined bowling performance, India was required to chase the target of 233 runs in 50 overs. The New Zealand bowlers were left clueless to counterattack Smriti’s steady knock of 100 runs off 122 balls that included 10 fours at a strike rate of 81.97. She maintained a 117-run partnership with the captain Harmanpreet Kaur who played a supportive innings with her 63-ball-59-run knock (including 6 fours).
The 28-year-old cricketer’s performance, not only made the chase easier but also overtook Mithali Raj’s leading position with most ODI centuries for India.
2. Mithali Raj: 7 Centuries
A glorious 18-year international career highlights Mithali Raj’s contribution to Indian cricket till her retirement.
The 41-year-old former Indian cricketer played 232 ODIs for her team and recorded 7,805 runs in 211 innings at an averaging excellence of 50.68 including 64 fifties and 7 hundreds. Out of which, she scored three centuries against Sri Lanka with her highest score of unbeaten 125 runs off 143 balls (including 14 fours and 1 six) at a strike rate of 87.41. However, her knock went in vain as Sri Lanka chased the target by a 7-wicket win.
3. Harmanpreet Kaur: 6 Centuries
Ranked as one of the most aggressive batters in the Indian women’s team, Harmanpreet Kaur scored 3,648 runs in 116 ODI innings, achieving 6 centuries to her name in the 50-over format.
Her career-best knock of unbeaten 171 runs scored from just 115 balls (including 20 fours and 7 sixes) against Australia in the 2017 ODI World Cup semi-final match helped her team secure a 36-run victory. Also, it was the highest individual score by any women cricketer in the ODI format batting at the No.4 slot.
4. Punam Raut: 3 Centuries
Punam Ganesh Raut is one of the most successful legendary batters for the Indian women’s team who scored 2,299 runs in 73 runs at an average nearly equal to 35. Although she is still active in the domestic format, she hasn’t been taken into consideration for the national team in recent times.
She scored three hundred in her ODI career against these teams:
- 1st ODI century: 109 runs in 116 balls (including 11 fours) at a strike rate of 93.96 vs Ireland Women in the Women’s Quadrangular Series held in South Africa.
- 2nd ODI century: 106 runs in 136 balls (including 11 fours) at a strike rate of 77.94 vs Australia Women.
- 3rd ODI century: 104 runs (not-out) in 123 balls (including 10 fours) at a strike rate of 117.50 vs South Africa Women.
5. Thirush Kamini: 2 Centuries
Former Indian opening batter Thirush Kamini is the fifth-most centurion for the Indian team in ODI cricket. In 37 ODI innings, the 34-year-old left-handed batter scored 825 runs at an average of 25.78 and strike rate of 56.12.
Thirush recorded her maiden ODI century against West Indies and the second one against Ireland:
- 1st ODI Century: 100 runs in 146 balls (including 11 fours and 1 six) at a strike rate of 68.49 vs West Indies Women in the ODI World Cup 2013 (Group Stages).
- 2nd ODI Century: 113 runs (not-out) in 146 balls (including 11 fours and 4 sixes) at a strike rate of 77.39 vs Ireland Women in the ODI World Cup 2017 (Group Stages).
On both these occasions, the Indian women’s team won the match and Thirush bagged the Player of the Match (POTM) award.
