Smriti Mandhana is the only Indian in TIME’s list of 100 most influential people in the world of sports. cricket news
New Delhi: Vice-captain of India Smriti Mandhana Has earned yet another prestigious honor after being named in Time magazine’s list of 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026, emerging as the only Indian to feature in the star-studded global lineup.The annual list recognizes athletes, coaches, investors and advocates who are “shaping sports today”. Basketball legend LeBron James headlines this year’s edition, which also features football icon Lionel Messi and Cristiano RonaldoTennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz, golfer Rory McIlroy, skier Aileen Gu, NBA star Victor Vembanyama and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. captain of south africa Temba Bavuma And New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson are also among the notable names on the list.
Mandhana’s remarkable progress has received global recognition
Time highlighted Mandhana’s remarkable achievements, noting how “records keep falling” for the Mumbai-born opening batsman.The 29-year-old became the first Indian woman to score a double century in a domestic one-day game and the first batsman from the country to score centuries in all three international formats. She is also the joint holder of the record for most centuries in women’s international cricket, with 17 centuries.Mandhana was also the first woman to score more than 1,000 ODI runs in a calendar year.However, TIME noted that the left-hander is most proud of the team successes he has helped achieve.Mandhana captained Royal Challengers Bangalore to Women’s Premier League titles in 2024 and 2026, while also serving as vice-captain during India’s victorious ICC Women’s ODI World Cup campaign last year, and was the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament.Her extraordinary consistency saw her record the most international runs by a woman across all formats in 2024 and surpass her own record in 2025, an achievement that contributed to her being named BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year.
Which aspect of Smriti Mandhana’s career impresses you the most?
The latest honor places Mandhana in elite company and underlines her growing stature as one of the most influential figures in world sport and the leading face of Indian women’s cricket.