“Until I was batting, I didn’t know what the record was because I didn’t know what the exact runs were or all that,” Mandhana said after the match in Dubai. “But yes, looking back, I would say it was definitely a very good day for Indian cricket. Of course, Mitali di was such a legend and role model and we all grew up watching her bat, so to beat her in runs count is [something] I definitely never thought I could do this. But I’m glad there are two Indians in the top two.”
Mandhana also holds the record of 18 centuries in international cricket, surpassing Meg Lanning and Laura Wolvaardt, who have 17 each. Mandhana has 14 ODI centuries – one behind Lanning at the top – and two each in Tests and T20Is.
“To break the international century record, I mean 18 is a good number, first of all, I will say that,” Mandhana said. “But again, two legends of women’s cricket, Meg Lanning and Mithali Raj. To be honest, these are two people I grew up watching my cricket with and tried to take a lot from them as batters. I’m very glad that I was able to bypass them in any way. But again, I would say this is just the beginning.”
Mandhana fought for almost an hour and a half after India lost to Hong Kong. She hit 14 fours and seven sixes, meaning she only managed 26 runs on a hot and humid night.
“Yeah, it really felt like a steambox today,” she said. “Dubai again, with the heat and humidity of Dubai, it might get a little tricky. But I was lucky that I got a few fours and sixes and didn’t have to run a lot of twos on the field. Definitely, I would say, a little bit of a testing environment to hit the ball for a long time.”
“I wouldn’t say it’s an easy playing environment,” Mandhana said. “We know it can be a little difficult and I’m definitely not someone who comes into press conferences and talks or calls anyone that. But having said that, I think everyone is a world-class batsman in the middle order and there is no doubt that they will be able to adapt.”
India will next play Pakistan on Saturday before the semi-finals on September 10 and 11.