Mandhana is having a magical year with 1000+ WODI runs; But why is she losing critical moments?

Smriti Mandhana crosses 1000 WODI runs in a dream year — but why does she falter in crucial moments for India?

In the ever-evolving landscape of women’s cricket, few stories in 2025 have been as compelling as Smriti Mandhana’s golden run. The India opener has been in sublime touch across formats, dismantling attacks with her elegance, timing and maturity. Every time she walks out to bat, there’s a sense of anticipation that something special is about to happen.

Statistically also, it has been special for the batter. Mandhana’s consistency has bordered on the unbelievable – not only has she scored heavily, but she has also done so against some of the best bowling line-ups in world cricket. Her form has anchored India’s batting through the season and made her one of the most dependable names in women’s cricket globally.

However, a question still lingers for all her brilliance- why isn’t Smriti Mandhana able to turn her individual dominance into victories for India during critical moments? Despite her record-breaking year, India’s campaign in the ongoing Women’s ODI World Cup has been a patchwork of promise and heartbreak. To understand this paradox, we need to dive into the numbers and the moments behind them.

Historic Run-Machine
For Smriti Mandhana, 2025 has been nothing short of sensational in women’s ODIs. She became the first woman in WODI history to cross 1000 runs in a single calendar year. The stat alone suggests tremendous consistency and an ability to dominate bowling attacks across conditions.

As the tournament’s stakes rise, particularly in the refreshing context of the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup, a curious paradox emerges; for all the runs Mandhana is piling up, her team often find themselves on the losing side in “critical moments.” That contrast forms the heart of this article: dissecting the numbers, the output and then the underlying “WHY.”

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Top run-getters in WODIs Championship 2022-2025

Smriti Mandhana has been in brilliant form throughout the ICC Women’s ODI Championship (2022–2025), finishing as the highest run-getter with 1,358 runs in 24 matches at an average of 59.04. She has been the backbone of India’s batting, combining elegance and power to score consistently in all conditions. Whether building steady partnerships or playing match-winning knocks, Mandhana has shown great composure and skill. Outscoring players like Laura Wolvaardt, Chamari Athapaththu, and Hayley Matthews, she has proven why she is one of the most reliable and exciting batters in women’s cricket today.

Top five run scorers in WODIs in 2025:

The 2025 numbers underline Smriti Mandhana’s sheer dominance in women’s ODIs, as she sits miles ahead of her peers with 1,150 runs – nearly 300 more than second-placed Pratika Rawal (854). Behind them, Tazmin Brits (804), Sidra Amin (643), and Harleen Deol (613) complete the top five, but none come close to Mandhana’s consistency or impact. Her performances this year have set her apart as the gold standard in women’s cricket, showcasing not just volume but quality – the hallmark of a batter at the very peak of her powers.

Read More: Women’s World Cup 2025: India’s misfiring middle order might hurt them against stronger opponents

Batting first vs batting second: What the numbers reveal
Another layer to Mandhana’s performance narrative lies in the context of her runs. How does she fare when setting a total compared to chasing one? The following breakdown offers information on her overall ODI career data:

Smriti Mandhana while Batting First

When India bat first, Mandhana has featured in 66 innings, scoring 2,792 runs at an average of 42.30 and a strike rate of 87.33. These are strong figures that underline her ability to provide steady starts and build innings when setting up totals. However, the slight dip in average and strike rate compared to her chasing numbers indicates that while she anchors well, she occasionally struggles to accelerate or convert starts into big, match-defining scores when India need a massive first-innings total.

Smriti Mandhana while Batting Second

In contrast, Mandhana’s numbers while chasing are exceptional. In 47 innings, she has amassed 2318 runs at an average of 56.53 and a strike rate of 93.54. This showcases her remarkable composure under pressure and ability to control the tempo of a run chase. She times her innings beautifully when there’s a set target, balancing aggression with calculation. Her frequency of impactful knocks, including five centuries and 18 fifties, reflects her reliability as India’s go-to batter in second- innings scenarios.

Read More: India’s lower order have put up rescue acts in first 3 games in WWC 2025; What’s making them tick?

Critical-moment conundrum
Despite her dominance, Smriti Mandhana’s performances in pressure situations, particularly in the ongoing WODI World Cup, tell a different story.

In the tournament opener against Sri Lanka, she fell for just 8 runs, leaving India exposed. Against Pakistan and South Africa, she managed 23 runs in each game, not enough to set the tone for victory against South Africa. Her 80-run knock against Australia was a classic display of timing and control, yet India still fell short. Even her fluent 88 against England, which should have sealed the game, ended in heartbreak as India collapsed after her dismissal.

The pattern is striking; India’s fortunes swing with Mandhana’s wicket. When she fires, the team thrives; when she falters, collapses often follow. Yet even when she performs well, victories sometimes slip away – suggesting that her individual brilliance is not always being backed by the team’s collective effort.

Why does she falter in critical moments?
Mandhana’s struggles in crunch moments seem to be a blend of mental fatigue, over-dependence and match-situation management. As India’s primary run-getter, she faces immense expectations every time she walks out. Opponents now design entire game plans around her early dismissal, deploying their best bowlers and field settings to neutralise her front-foot drives – her signature weapon.

In several recent matches, including the ongoing World Cup, she has been undone by well-directed short deliveries or by playing one stroke too many early on in her innings. When chasing or under scoreboard pressure, she often thrives; but when asked to anchor and build a long innings from scratch as in batting first – her rhythm sometimes stalls.

There’s also a strategic dimension: India’s middle order remains inconsistent, forcing Mandhana to balance aggression with caution. The psychological toll of knowing that her wicket could decide the match cannot be understated. As a result, she occasionally plays out of her natural tempo, which can lead to misjudgments in tight situations.

Bigger picture
Smriti Mandhana’s 2025 season is a mix of brilliance and heartbreak. She has shattered records and redefined consistency in women’s cricket, yet the defining, title-winning moments still slip away. Her journey mirrors India women’s team – talented and dominant, but still chasing that killer instinct to turn good performances into glory.

If she can turn her elegant 80s and 90s into match-winning hundreds, Mandhana won’t just lead India’s batting revolution – she will define it. Her story is still unfolding, and the next chapters could finally bring the triumphs India have long awaited.

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