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Indian opener Smriti Mandhana is on the verge of a major record. She needs just 12 runs to surpass Belinda Clark's mark for most runs in a calendar year in women's ODIs. Mandhana has already amassed 959 runs in 2025. She is also nearing 5,000 ODI runs, a milestone achieved by only Mithali Raj.

India may be unbeaten, but their much-vaunted top order has failed to fire against less-fancied opponents in the home Women's World Cup. While Jemimah Rodrigues has downplayed concerns around the top order, India must address these batting concerns quickly to avoid any costly slips.

Smriti Mandhana continues to dominate the ICC Women's ODI Batting Rankings, holding her No.1 position despite strong performances from rivals at the World Cup. While others like Tazmin Brits and Ash Gardner have climbed significantly, Mandhana's consistent form ensures her lead remains intact. England's Sophie Ecclestone leads the bowling charts.

Women's World Cup 2025 Preview: Harmanpreet Kaur faces a challenging task as India begin their quest for a maiden ICC title against Sri Lanka on September 30 at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati.

The 2025 ICC Women's World Cup is set to take place from September 30 to November 2, with matches being hosted across India and Colombo. Australia, the defending champions, have claimed the title seven times, while India will be aiming to secure their first-ever ICC Women's World Cup triumph.

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar believes the upcoming ODI World Cup in India marks a watershed moment for women's cricket, predicting Harmanpreet Kaur's team can clinch their first global trophy on home soil. He highlighted Harmanpreet's impactful 2017 innings and Smriti Mandhana's grace, stressing the tournament's potential to inspire young girls and transcend barriers.

Smriti Mandhana, the world's top-ranked ODI batter, enters the 2025 Women's World Cup in peak form, fresh off record-breaking centuries. As India's vice-captain, her phenomenal 2025 stats and elegant yet explosive batting make her pivotal to the nation's quest for a maiden ICC title, poised to rewrite history.