Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal have become India’s most prolific batting pair in women’s ODI cricket, surpassing the long-standing partnership record held by Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur.
The opening duo reached the milestone during India’s first ODI against Zimbabwe at Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara.
Mandhana and Rawal added 94 runs for the opening wicket as India chased a target of 198. Their partnership took their combined career tally to 1,979 runs in 27 innings, moving them past Mithali and Harmanpreet’s previous record of 1,978 runs in 56 innings.
The achievement underlined the remarkable consistency of an opening combination that has played together since 2024.
Mandhana and Rawal Set New India Women’s ODI Record
Mandhana and Rawal entered the Zimbabwe ODI within reach of becoming India’s highest-scoring partnership in the format. Their 94-run opening stand was enough to establish a new national record for the most partnership runs by any pair in women’s ODIs.
The duo have now accumulated 1,979 runs at an average of 73.29, including seven century partnerships and ten fifty-run stands. Their record is particularly impressive considering they have reached the milestone in just 27 innings. By comparison, Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur scored 1,978 runs together across 56 innings, averaging 38.03. Mandhana and Rawal have surpassed the previous record in fewer than half as many innings.
Most Partnership Runs for India Women in ODIs
| Batting pair | Innings | Runs | Average | 100/50 partnerships |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal | 27 | 1,979 | 73.29 | 7/10 |
| Harmanpreet Kaur and Mithali Raj | 56 | 1,978 | 38.03 | 1/17 |
| Anjum Chopra and Mithali Raj | 57 | 1,946 | 37.42 | 5/8 |
Mandhana and Rawal now lead a list featuring some of India’s most accomplished international batters. Anjum Chopra and Mithali Raj occupy third place with 1,946 partnership runs in 57 innings.
Opening Pair Falls Six Runs Short of Another Milestone
Although Mandhana and Rawal established a new aggregate partnership record, they narrowly missed another achievement against Zimbabwe. Their opening stand ended at 94 when Mandhana was caught at long-on while attempting to attack legspinner Olinder Chare.
The pair needed just six more runs to register their eighth century partnership in women’s ODIs. That would have made them the first Indian batting combination to record eight 100-run stands in the format.
For now, Mandhana and Rawal remain level with Mithali Raj and Punam Raut, who also registered seven century partnerships.
Most Century Partnerships for India Women in ODIs
| Batting pair | 100-run partnerships |
|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal | 7 |
| Mithali Raj and Punam Raut | 7 |
| Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana | 6 |
Mandhana and Rawal’s consistency has made them one of India’s most productive opening combinations. Their ability to build substantial partnerships has provided stability at the top of the order while allowing India’s middle order to play more aggressively.
Rawal Scores Century as India Beat Zimbabwe
The partnership record came during a dominant Indian performance in Vadodara. Zimbabwe were bowled out for 197 after N Shree Charani claimed four wickets and Kranti Gaud took three. Mandhana and Rawal then gave India a strong start, adding 94 runs for the first wicket.
After Mandhana’s dismissal, Rawal continued alongside Shafali Verma, who accelerated the chase with an unbeaten 64 off 33 balls. Rawal completed her third ODI century and finished on 100 not out from 96 deliveries.
India reached 200 for 1 in 27.1 overs, winning by nine wickets with 137 balls remaining. The result gave India a successful start to the series and marked another important achievement for Rawal.
Mandhana and Rawal Could Challenge More ODI Records
Mandhana and Rawal have established themselves as a successful partnership in a relatively short period. They began opening together in 2024 and were part of India’s victorious Women’s ODI World Cup campaign in 2025.
Their combination brings together Mandhana’s international experience and Rawal’s consistency at the top of the order. With seven century partnerships already, they need just one more to establish a new Indian record.
The pair could also eventually challenge the world record for the most partnership runs in women’s ODI cricket.
Australia’s Lisa Keightley and Belinda Clark hold that mark with 3,339 runs in 67 innings. Mandhana and Rawal remain 1,360 runs behind that total, but their current scoring rate suggests they could move closer if they continue batting together regularly.
For now, their achievement against Zimbabwe has secured their place in Indian women’s ODI history as the country’s highest-scoring batting partnership.
