Smriti Mandhana Recognized by TIME as One of the 100 Most Influential People in Sports
India’s vice-captain, Smriti Mandhana, has made headlines by being included in TIME magazine’s prestigious list of the 100 Most Influential People in Sports for 2026. She stands out as the only Indian athlete in this annual selection.
TIME’s list showcases a diverse group of individuals, including athletes, coaches, and leaders who are making a significant impact on the global sports scene.
Mandhana finds herself alongside sports legends such as LeBron James, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo. This honor reflects her remarkable contributions to women’s cricket and her ability to achieve personal success while being a valuable team player.
TIME emphasized Mandhana’s groundbreaking achievements, including her status as the first Indian woman to score a double century in a domestic one-day match and the first to hit centuries in all three international formats. Remarkably, she shares the record for the most centuries in women’s international cricket, with a total of 17, and was the first to score over 1,000 ODI runs in a single year.
At just 29 years old, Mandhana has consistently excelled both in her franchise career and at the international level. TIME noted her leadership in helping Royal Challengers Bengaluru secure Women’s Premier League titles in 2024 and 2026. Furthermore, she played a crucial role in India’s ICC Women’s World Cup victory last year, finishing among the tournament’s top run-scorers.
“Records keep tumbling in,” TIME remarked in its profile of Mandhana. Her impressive performance has led to astonishing statistics; in 2024, she set the record for the most international runs by a woman across formats in a calendar year, only to surpass that record in 2025, earning her the BBC Indian Sportswoman award.
Mandhana’s journey is a testament to her talent and dedication, inspiring many in the world of sports.
