Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has set a new record as the first Indian female cricketer to score eight centuries in ODI cricket. The left-handed batter reached this achievement in the recent third ODI match against New Zealand Women at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The special moment came on the second-last ball of the 40th over, as Mandhana ran a single off Eden Carson’s delivery to reach her century.
While chasing a 233-run target in the series decider on Tuesday, Mandhana scored exactly 100 runs from 122 balls, hitting 10 fours. This not only helped her surpass former captain Mithali Raj, who has seven ODI centuries, but also laid the groundwork for a decisive win for India.
List Of Most Hundreds For India Women in WODIs
Here is a list of Indian women cricketers who have scored the most centuries in ODIs:
| Cricketer | ODI Debut | First Century | Total Centuries | Notable Records/Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana | 2013 | 2016 | 8 | First Indian woman with 8 ODI centuries; scored back-to-back centuries in June 2022; joint-fifth in the world for most hundreds in Women’s ODIs. |
| Mithali Raj | 1999 | 1999 (Century on debut) | 7 | Scored a century on debut at 16; took six years for her second century; last century in 2018, four years before her final international match. |
| Harmanpreet Kaur | 2009 | 2013 | 5 | Known for a famous World Cup semi-final century in 2017; scored two match-winning centuries in New Zealand and England; only Indian with more than two World Cup centuries. |
| Punam Raut | 2009 | 2017 | 3 | Scored her first century eight years after debut; scored another century against Australia in 2017; overlooked for the 2022 Women’s World Cup despite a recent century. |
| Jaya Sharma | Early 2000s | 2005 (Against Pakistan) | 2 | Second Indian woman to score an ODI century; scored her first century against Pakistan and another in Chennai against Australia; first to score an ODI century at home in India. |
Smriti Mandhana
After a couple of recent setbacks, Smriti Mandhana has bounced back, showing her strong ODI form from her last series against South Africa in June, where she scored two consecutive centuries. In that series, she even came close to a third century, missing it by just 10 runs.
Mandhana is the first Indian woman cricketer to score two consecutive ODI centuries and was nearly the second player to reach three back-to-back centuries in Women’s ODIs.
Playing in this format since 2013, Mandhana’s first ODI century came in 2016. She added one century each in 2017, 2018, and 2019, but then waited over three years to score her fifth century in 2022. On the global stage, Mandhana now stands in the joint-fifth position for the most hundreds in Women’s ODIs.
Mithali Raj
On a historic day for Indian women cricket, former captain Mithali Raj, just 16 years old, started her ODI career with a century on debut. It was the sixth time two batters scored a century in the same ODI match, but it was the first time featuring Indian players.
Although Raj was known for her steady form, it took her over six years to reach her second ODI century in 2006, with her third coming in 2011. Raj scored another century each in 2013 and 2014 but was unable to achieve this milestone again after 2018, four years before her last international match.
Harmanpreet Kaur
Four years after her ODI debut in 2009, current India women’s cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored two centuries in 2013. The right-handed batter took another four years to score her next century, playing one of the most memorable innings in Women’s cricket history during the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup semi-final.
Though she didn’t score another century for over a decade, Kaur returned with two match-winning centuries in New Zealand and England. She remains the only Indian female cricketer with more than two World Cup centuries.
Punam Raut
Both Kamini and Punam Raut share the similarity of not scoring an ODI century early in their careers but reaching this milestone in later matches. Raut, who began her ODI journey in 2009, scored her first century eight years later.
She hit her first ton against Ireland in Potchefstroom, followed by another against Australia in Bristol the same year. Despite scoring a century against South Africa in her third-last ODI, she was not selected for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2022.
Jaya Sharma
Former batter Jaya Sharma was the second Indian female cricketer to score a century in ODI cricket. Her first century came against Pakistan during the 2005 Women’s Asia Cup in Karachi. She followed it up with another in 2007 against Australia in Chennai, becoming the first Indian woman to score an ODI century at home. The left-handed batter had earlier missed this milestone a few times, falling short in the 90s.
FAQ’s
Who is the first Indian female cricketer to score eight centuries in ODIs?
Smriti Mandhana became the first Indian female cricketer to score eight centuries in ODIs. She reached this milestone in 2022 and is also ranked joint-fifth globally for most hundreds in Women’s ODIs.
When did Mithali Raj score her first ODI century?
Mithali Raj scored her first ODI century in 1999 on her debut at just 16 years old, making her one of the youngest Indian cricketers to achieve this. She later added six more centuries, totaling seven in her career.
How many centuries has Punam Raut scored in Women’s ODIs?
Punam Raut has scored three centuries in Women’s ODIs. She scored her first century in 2017, eight years after her debut, and went on to score another against Australia that year. Despite recent performances, she was not selected for the 2022 Women’s World Cup.
Who was the first Indian woman to score an ODI century at home?
Jaya Sharma was the first Indian woman to score an ODI century at home. She scored her first century against Pakistan in 2005 and followed it up with another century in Chennai against Australia in 2007.
Which Indian female cricketer holds the record for most ODI centuries?
Smriti Mandhana holds the record for the most ODI centuries by an Indian female cricketer, with eight centuries to her name as of 2024.
How many ODI centuries did Mithali Raj score in her career?
Mithali Raj scored a total of seven ODI centuries in her career, placing her among India’s top-performing female cricketers in ODIs.
When did Harmanpreet Kaur make her ODI debut?
Harmanpreet Kaur made her ODI debut in 2009. Her standout performances include two centuries in 2013 and her iconic innings during the 2017 Women’s World Cup semi-final.
What is Harmanpreet Kaur’s highest achievement in Women’s ODIs?
Harmanpreet Kaur is celebrated for her remarkable innings during the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup semi-final. She is also the only Indian female cricketer with more than two World Cup centuries, proving her consistent performance on the world stage.
