India Women Create History: Everything You Need to Know 


On January 12, 2025, India Women created history with a record-breaking performance against Ireland Women in the second ODI held in Rajkot. The match saw the hosts achieve their highest-ever team total in Women’s ODIs, showcasing a dominant display of skill and resilience. The game was filled with remarkable milestones and jaw-dropping statistics that highlighted India’s progress in the format. Here’s an in-depth look at the key numbers and standout performances from this historic match.

India’s Highest Total in Women’s ODIs

India set a monumental target of 370/5, eclipsing their previous best of 358/2 against Ireland in Potchefstroom in 2017 and 358/5 against West Indies Women in Vadodara last month. This marked the third time in less than a year that India scored over 325 runs in an ODI, underscoring the team’s evolution into a formidable batting unit.

India Women’s Top Five ODI Totals

ScoreOpponentVenue, Year
370/5Ireland WomenRajkot, 2025
358/2Ireland WomenPotchefstroom, 2017
358/5West Indies WomenVadodara, 2024
333/5England WomenCanterbury, 2022
325/3South Africa WomenBengaluru, 2024

Record Partnerships Power India’s Innings

The foundation for the record total was laid by two remarkable 150-plus partnerships.

  1. Smriti Mandhana (73) and Pratika Rawal (67) added 156 runs for the opening wicket at a blistering run rate of 8.21, the fastest 150-plus opening partnership for India Women in ODIs.
  2. Harleen Deol (82) and Jemimah Rodrigues (102) added a crucial stand in the middle order, keeping the momentum alive.

Fastest 150-Plus Opening Stands in Women’s ODIs

Run RateRunsPairTeamOpponentVenue, Year
9.13172Suzie Bates, Jess WatkinNZ WomenIRE WomenDublin, 2018
8.21156Smriti Mandhana, Pratika RawalIND WomenIRE WomenRajkot, 2025
7.06159Rachael Haynes, Alyssa HealyAUS WomenSL WomenBrisbane, 2019
7.03320Poonam Raut, Deepti SharmaIND WomenIRE WomenPotchefstroom, 2017
6.77174*Smriti Mandhana, Shafali VermaIND WomenSL WomenPallekele, 2022

Jemimah Rodrigues Shines with a Spectacular Century

Jemimah Rodrigues delivered a stellar performance, scoring a scintillating 102 off 90 balls, marking her first century in Women’s ODIs. This was the joint second-fastest century for India Women in the format. Alongside this achievement, Rodrigues became the 11th Indian batter to surpass 1000 runs in ODIs.

Fastest Centuries for India Women in ODIs

Balls TakenBatterOpponentVenue, Year
87Harmanpreet KaurSA WomenBengaluru, 2024
90Harmanpreet KaurAUS WomenDerby, 2017
90Jemimah RodriguesIRE WomenRajkot, 2025
98Harleen DeolWI WomenVadodara, 2024
100Harmanpreet KaurWI WomenHamilton, 2022

Rodrigues’ century played a crucial role in ensuring India’s dominance in the game.

Consistent Contributions from the Top Order

India’s top-four batters—Smriti Mandhana (73), Pratika Rawal (67), Harleen Deol (82), and Jemimah Rodrigues (102)—all crossed the 50-run mark. This was only the second instance in India Women’s ODI history where four batters scored fifty-plus in the same innings. The first occurrence was back in 2004, against West Indies Women in Dhanbad.

Key Performances from India’s Top Four

  1. Smriti Mandhana: Set the tone with her aggressive knock, striking at over 100.
  2. Pratika Rawal: Continued her fine form, scoring her fifth 50-plus score in just five ODIs.
  3. Harleen Deol: Played a pivotal middle-order role, maintaining a healthy strike rate.
  4. Jemimah Rodrigues: Anchored the innings with her century, ensuring a strong finish.

Pratika Rawal’s Exceptional Start to Her ODI Career

Pratika Rawal has been a revelation for India Women in ODIs. With 290 runs in her first five matches, Rawal now holds the second-highest aggregate for any player after five ODIs, surpassing Australia’s Nicole Bolton (287) and trailing only Scotland’s Kathryn Bryce (310).

Highest Aggregates After Five Women’s ODIs

RunsPlayerTeamMatches Played
310Kathryn BryceScotland5
290Pratika RawalIndia5
287Nicole BoltonAustralia5

Rawal’s consistency and ability to adapt to different situations make her a player to watch in the future.

India Women’s Growing Dominance in ODIs

India’s performance in Rajkot reflects the team’s growth and ability to dominate in the 50-over format. Key factors contributing to their success include:

  1. Aggressive Batting Approach: India’s ability to post high totals regularly has put pressure on opponents.
  2. Depth in Batting: Contributions from multiple players in a single innings highlight the team’s balance.
  3. Consistent Performances: The emergence of young players like Pratika Rawal and the consistency of veterans like Smriti Mandhana provide a solid core.

The second ODI against Ireland Women in Rajkot was a historic day for India Women’s cricket. By achieving their highest-ever total of 370/5, the team demonstrated its batting depth, strategic planning, and individual brilliance. From Jemimah Rodrigues’ swift century to Pratika Rawal’s record-breaking start, the match was filled with milestones that underscore India’s dominance in the women’s game.

As India looks to build momentum heading into future tournaments, performances like these will inspire confidence in their ability to compete at the highest level. With a blend of experienced campaigners and emerging talents, India Women are well on their way to becoming one of the most formidable teams in world cricket.

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