Smriti Mandhana Creates History at Lord’s: Youngest Cricketer Ever to Reach 300 International Matches, But Misses Century by Just 17 Runs

LONDON: Smriti Mandhana added another glorious chapter to her remarkable cricket journey after becoming the youngest cricketer in women’s international cricket history to reach 300 international matches. The landmark came during India’s one-off Test match against England at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground on Friday.

At just 28 years and 357 days, the elegant left-handed batter achieved a feat that underlines her consistency and longevity across all three formats of the game. Since making her international debut, Mandhana has represented India in 9 Tests, 120 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and 171 T20 Internationals, taking her overall tally to 300 international appearances.

The achievement also places Mandhana among an elite group of legends. She is now the 12th woman cricketer in the world to play 300 or more international matches and only the third Indian woman to reach the milestone after Harmanpreet Kaur and Mithali Raj.

Historic Match at the ‘Home of Cricket’

The occasion carried even greater significance as the contest marked the first-ever women’s Test match at Lord’s, one of the most iconic venues in world cricket. Known as the “Home of Cricket,” Lord’s provided the perfect stage for Mandhana to celebrate one of the biggest milestones of her career.

Despite the pressure of the occasion, the stylish opener produced another classy innings. Walking in after India suffered early setbacks, she steadied the innings with a fluent 83 runs, playing several trademark cover drives and helping her team recover from a difficult start.

Although she narrowly missed what could have been a memorable century by 17 runs, her knock proved crucial in giving India a competitive platform.

Mandhana Surprised by the Milestone

Interestingly, Mandhana admitted that she was unaware she was about to play her 300th international match until the eve of the game.

Speaking before the start of play, she revealed that she rarely keeps count of the number of matches she has played across formats.

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Reflecting on the emotional significance of the venue, Mandhana recalled India’s appearance in the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup Final at Lord’s, describing it as a moment that shaped her career. She admitted that after that tournament she had questioned whether she would get another opportunity to represent India, making her return to the same ground for such a historic milestone even more special.

An Inspiration for Indian Cricket

Mandhana has established herself as one of the finest batters in modern women’s cricket through years of consistent performances. Her elegant stroke play, leadership qualities, and ability to deliver in pressure situations have made her one of India’s biggest sporting icons.

Her latest record is another reminder of her remarkable contribution to Indian cricket and serves as an inspiration for the next generation of young cricketers.

India Eye Fresh Start

The Lord’s Test also marks the beginning of India’s efforts to bounce back after a disappointing campaign in the recent ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, where the team failed to progress beyond the group stage following defeats against South Africa and Australia.

With experienced stars like Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Deepti Sharma leading the side, India will hope this historic Test signals the beginning of a stronger chapter in women’s cricket.