Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal Make History as First Duo in the World To…
In an impressive display of batting, Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal have etched their names in the cricket record books. During a match on October 12, 2025, they established an unprecedented opening partnership for India in the Women’s World Cup against Australia, amassing 106 runs.
Historic Opening Partnership
The duo’s standout performance took place at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, where they initially scored slowly, totaling just 23 runs in the first six overs. However, they significantly accelerated their run rate as the match progressed.
- The partnership broke the previous record of 101 runs set by England’s E Bakewell and D Thomas in 1973.
- This marks the highest-ever opening stand by India against Australia in Women’s World Cups.
Key Highlights of the Match
- By the ninth over, they had reached 50 runs, marking their 14th fifty-plus partnership in One Day Internationals (ODIs).
- This partnership is the second-highest for India, just behind the 21 innings partnership of Harmanpreet Kaur and Mithali Raj.
- The pair of Mandhana and Rawal currently trail only Mithali Raj and Punam Raut in terms of century partnerships for India, with six in just 21 innings.
Breaking Records Against Australia
By surpassing 100 runs together, Mandhana and Rawal achieved their fourth 100-plus partnership of the year. This achievement now ranks second overall behind the legendary partnership of Belinda Clark and Lisa Keightley from Australia.
This match against Australia not only showcased their talent but also highlighted their growing chemistry on the field. Their performance may inspire future generations of cricketers.
