Smriti Mandhana made a record by scoring a half-century in the decisive match against West Indies. Mandhana became the highest run-scorer in a calendar year in Women's T20I. She scored 763 runs in 23 matches played this year and created history. With this, Mandhana broke the record of Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu, who scored 720 runs in 21 matches this year.
Also Read: Most T20I runs for Indian Women's team: Smriti Mandhana at top
Let's take a look at the batters with the most WT20I runs in a calendar year.
Most WT20I runs | In a year
1# Smriti Mandhana | 763 Runs (2024*)
India's Smriti Mandhana has scripted a historic record in WT20Is. The ace opener scored 193 runs in the WT20I series against West Indies. Mandhana recorded 763 runs in the shortest format in 2024. It is the most WT20I runs in a calendar year by any batter. Mandhana struck eight half-centuries in 23 WT20Is at an average of 42.38 and a strike rate of 126.53.
Mandhana also became the first Indian woman to score a fifty in each of their innings in a bilateral T20I series of three matches or longer.
2# Chamari Athapaththu | 720 Runs (2024)
Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu is second on the list for most WT20I runs in a calendar year. She scored 720 runs this year in 21 matches with two centuries and a top score of unbeaten 119. Athapaththu is currently seventh in the list of leading run-scorers in Women’s T20Is.
Athapaththu has become the first player in the history of the Women's Asia Cup to smash a century in the format. The Sri Lankan captain has also become the first player to score a century in Women's T20Is in Sri Lanka. Before this, no women's player could breach the triple-digit mark in Sri Lanka in the format.
3# Esha Oza | 711 Runs (2024)
UAE all-rounder Esha Oza comes next on the list with 711 runs this year as well at an average of 41.82 and a strike rate of 111.79. She smashed one century and four half-centuries in 20 WT20Is and a top score of unbeaten 114. Oza has been in top form with the bat lately. However, she has taken over the additional responsibility of leading her side as well. While leading the side can certainly be a burden on all-rounders, Oza sees the brighter side of things.
Also Read: Happy Birthday Smriti Mandhana: Here's every record created by Smriti Mandhana
4# Hayley Matthews | 700 Runs (2023)
In 2023, West Indies' Hayley Matthews aggregated 700 runs in 14 WT20Is at an average of 63.63 and a strike rate of 132.32. She smashed 4 fifties and 1 hundred in the year 2023. She was the only batter to touch 700 runs in 2023. Interestingly, no other batters had even crossed the 600-run mark threshold.
Hayley's historic 132-run knock saw WI chase down 213 against Australia, the highest run chase in women's T20Is.