New Delhi: The sixth match of the ICC 2025 Women’s World Cup is being played between India and New Zealand at the DY Patil International Stadium in Navi Mumbai. This match is crucial for India, as a loss would mean the team is almost certainly out of the tournament being held on home turf. Therefore, the team’s hopes rest heavily on star opening batter Smriti Mandhana.
Third Consecutive Half-Century and a World Record
Smriti Mandhana continued her superb form, scoring her third consecutive half-century. In this innings, she also hit two sixes and, in the process, set a new world record. She now has 29 sixes in 2025, the most by any player in women’s ODI cricket in a single calendar year. The previous record was held by South Africa’s Lizelle Lee, who hit 28 sixes in 2017.
Smriti Mandhana and Pratiksha Rawal’s Opening Partnership
Smriti Mandhana and Pratiksha Rawal once again put on a century partnership to give India a brilliant start against New Zealand. This is the seventh century opening stand for the pair, the most in Indian women’s cricket and jointly the second-highest in the history of women’s cricket. This pair has already forged five century partnerships in 2025 alone. This is a record for the most century partnerships by a pair in a single calendar year. They share this record with Australian players Belinda Clark and Lisa Keightley, who also had five century partnerships in 2000.
Players with the most number of sixes in Women’s ODIs in a single calendar year
| Player | Team | Sixes | Year |
| Smriti Mandhana | India | 29 | 2025 |
| Lizelle Lee | South Africa | 28 | 2017 |
| Deandra Dottin | West Indies | 21 | 2013 |
| Chloe Tryon | South Africa | 21 | 2017 |
| Chamari Athapaththu | Sri Lanka | 21 | 2013 |
Smriti Mandhana’s Impact and Expectations
Smriti’s innings is not only a testament to her individual talent but also plays a crucial role in the Indian team’s quest for victory. Her half-centuries and record-breaking sixes have boosted the team’s confidence. If the Mandhana-Rawal partnership continues in this manner, India’s chances of winning will be greatly enhanced.
Story Highlights
- Smriti Mandhana hit the most sixes (29) in a single year in women’s ODIs.
- Mandhana scored her third consecutive half-century, setting a new record.
- Mandhana and Pratiksha Rawal formed their seventh century opening partnership.
- The pair shared the record for the most century partnerships in 2025, with five such partnerships.