The 4th T20I between India Women and Sri Lanka Women has turned into a pure run-fest, thanks to the explosive opening pair of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma. The duo didn’t just bat; they dominated, shattering multiple records and putting the Sri Lankan bowlers to the sword.
Also Read: Smriti Mandhana creates history, leaves legends behind in jaw-dropping feat
Here is a look at the major milestones they crossed today.
India’s Highest T20I Partnership
This innings wasn’t just big; it was historical. Mandhana and Shafali have now registered the highest partnership for India Women for any wicket in T20I history. They went past their own previous best of 143 runs, which they scored against the West Indies back in 2019. It was a display of pure dominance that set a new benchmark for Indian cricket.
It wasn’t until Shafali Verma was caught and bowled by Nimasha Meepage on 79 runs that their partnership finally came to an end. Smriti-Shafali registered a whopping 162 for the first wicket.
World Leaders in 50-Plus Stands
Consistency is key in T20s, and this pair has it in abundance. With today’s knock, they now hold the world record for the most 50-plus partnerships in Women’s T20Is.
24- S Mandhana & Shafali Verma (IND-W)*
20- Alyssa Healy & Beth Mooney (AUS-W)
18- Suzie Bates & Sophie Devine (NZ-W)
Moving past legends like Healy and Mooney proves just how vital this pair is to India’s success.
Best Against Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan bowlers had no answers today. This stand is now officially the highest partnership for India Women against Sri Lanka for any wicket in the shortest format. They completely took the game away from the opposition right from the very first ball.
Joining the ‘Century Stand’ Elite
Scoring a hundred-run partnership is rare in T20s, but these two make it look easy. They now have four 100-plus opening stands, tying them with the Australian pair of Healy and Mooney. Only the UAE pair of Esha Oza and Theertha Satish (6) has more.
Consecutive Fifty Streaks
Individually, both batters are in the form of their lives. Smriti Mandhana has equaled the legendary Mithali Raj’s record for the most consecutive 50-plus scores for India (4) earlier this year and has been going gung-ho with a bat in hand. Meanwhile, Shafali Verma is in red-hot form ever since that World Cup final performance, now scoring her third consecutive T20I fifty.
4- Mithali Raj (2016-18)
4- Smriti Mandhana (2024-25)
3- Shafali Verma (2025)*
At the end of their onslaught, their partnership lasted for 92 balls in which they scored 162 runs. Shafali Verma fell for 79 off 46 balls, while Smriti Mandhana’s wicket fell an over later on 80 off 48. But the destruction had already been done.
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