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www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know Sports News India Times (December 27, 2025 - January 2, 2026) January 2, 2026 27 Women’s Cricket: Smriti Mandhana Becomes First Indian Batter To Hit 4000 Runs In Women’s T20Is V isakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) [India], December 21, 2025: Star Indian opener Smriti Mandhana scripted history as she became the first Indian to hit 4000 runs inWomen’s T20I cricket. The left-handed batter achieved this historic milestone during the first T20I against Sri LankaWomen at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Mandhana, who scored 25 runs during the opening T20I of the five-match series, also became the second woman to reach the landmark of 4000 runs in T20Is after New Zealand’s Suzie Bates (4716 runs). Additionally, Mandhana is also the quickest to do so in terms of balls taken (3227) than Bates, who took 3675 balls to reach the 4000 runs milestone. Also, Mandhana is just 42 runs away from scoring 10,000 runs in women’s international cricket. Mandhana has notched up 4007 runs in T20Is, 5322 runs in ODIs, and 629 runs in Test cricket to date. Coming to the match, Jemimah Rodrigues slammed a match-winning, unbeaten halfcentury that helped the Harmanpreet Kaur-led IndiaWomen to a dominating eightwicket win against Sri LankaWomen in the series opener on Sunday. With this commanding win, theWomen in Blue took a 1-0 lead in the ongoing T20I series against Sri Lanka. While chasing a 122-run target, Jemi- mah hammered an unbeaten 69 runs off 44 deliveries, with the help of 10 fours that helped IndiaWomen to chase down the target in just 14.4 overs. Jemimah also equalled Mithali Raj’s four 50-plus scores against Sri Lanka in T20Is. During the chase, Mandhana and Jemi- mah stitched a crucial 54-run partnership for the second wicket that put India into a commanding position. Jemimah also stitched an unbeaten 55- run stand for the third wicket with captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who made an un- beaten 15 that helped theWomen in Blue win the first T20I by eight wickets. Earlier, after being asked to bat first, Sri LankaWomen were restricted to 121/6 in their 20 overs. Sri Lanka opener Vishmi Gunaratne was the top scorer for the visitors, scoring 39 off 43 balls. Among the bowlers, Deepti Sharma was the most economical, returning figures of 1/20 in her four overs, which included a maiden. Kranti Gaud finished with 1/23 from three overs, while Shree Charani conceded 30 runs and picked up one wicket in her four overs. Brief scores: Sri LankaWomen 121/6 in 20 overs (Vishmi Gunaratne 39, Harshitha Samarawickrama 21; Deepti Shar- ma 1/20) vs IndiaWomen (Jemimah Rodrigues 69*, Smriti Mandhana 25; Inoka Ranaweera 1/17). -ANI Smriti Mandhana. PHOTO:ANI Cricket-Bihar Rack Up 574 in 50-Over Game As Records Tumble In Indian Run Spree D ec 24 (Reuters) – Bihar posted the highest score in men’s List A cricket with a staggering 574-6 against Arunachal Pradesh in India’s Vijay Hazare Trophy onWednesday, led by 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s jaw-dropping knock of 190. The previous record for the highest total in List A cricket, which includes in- ternational and domestic one-day games, was held by Tamil Nadu, who scored 506-2 against Arunachal Pradesh in 2022. Suryavanshi led the carnage with 16 fours and 15 sixes from just 84 balls, bringing up his century in 36 deliveries. The teenager reached 150 off just 59 balls to break the record set by South African AB de Villiers (64 balls). Ayush Loharuka (116) and skipper Sakibul Gani (128) also scored centuries, with Gani bringing up his ton in 32 balls — the fastest List A century by an Indian. In response, Arunachal Pradesh crumbled to 177 all out to lose by a mammoth 397 runs. Elsewhere, Ishan Kishan scored 125 off 39 balls, reaching his century in 33 balls, as three of the four fastest centuries by Indians in List A cricket came on the same day. However, Kishan’s fireworks went in vain after he guided Jharkhand to 412-9, only for Karnataka to chase down the total with 15 balls to spare, thanks mainly to Devdutt Padikkal’s knock of 147. KOHLI, ROHIT MILESTONES The Vijay Hazare Trophy is India’s main domestic 50-over competition and India stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma also had a field day. Rohit hit 155 off 94 balls to guide Mum- bai to an eight-wicket victory over Sikkim, and Kohli made 131 off 101 as Delhi overhauled Andhra Pradesh’s total of 298 in 37.4 overs. Kohli became the fastest player to score 16,000 List A runs (330 innings), surpass- ing Indian great Sachin Tendulkar who achieved the feat in 391 knocks. The 38-year-old Rohit became the second-oldest player to make a century in the competition and matched Australian DavidWarner’s record of nine 150-plus scores. -Reuters Cricket – Indian Premier League – IPL – Rajasthan Royals v Lucknow Super Giants – Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, India – April 19, 2025 Rajasthan Royals’ Vaibhav Suryavanshi in action Cricket – ICC T20 World Cup 2024 – Group A – India v Pakistan – Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York, United States – June 9, 2024 India’s Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli leave the pitch due to rain PHOTO:REUTERS/ANDREW KELLY/FILE PHOTO PHOTO:REUTERS/ANUSHREE FADNAVIS