Smriti Mandhana Named to TIME's 100 Most Influential Sportspersons, Only Indian on 2026 List
Smriti Mandhana has been named to TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026, becoming the only Indian on the prestigious global list. The left-handed opener shares the honour with sporting icons including LeBron James, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Alcaraz and Rory McIlroy.
Mandhana, vice-captain of the Indian women's cricket team, has set numerous records in international cricket. She is the first Indian woman to score a double century in domestic ODIs and centuries across all three international formats. She jointly holds the record for most centuries in women's international cricket with 17 hundreds and remains the only woman cricketer to score over 1,000 ODI runs in a single calendar year.
In 2024, Mandhana set a record for most international runs by a woman across all formats, a tally she surpassed the following year. TIME's annual list celebrates athletes, coaches, executives and changemakers shaping global sport.
