Hyderabad, June 16: Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana has been named in TIME magazine’s 2026 list of the 100 Most Influential People in Sports, becoming the only Indian to feature in the prestigious global ranking.
TIME’s annual list recognises athletes, coaches, investors and sports leaders shaping the future of sport. This year’s edition includes global names across disciplines and highlights individuals for their impact and achievements.
Mandhana, 29, earned recognition for her consistent performances and growing influence in women’s cricket. She currently serves as vice captain of the Indian women’s cricket team.
Smriti Mandhana earns global recognition
According to TIME, Mandhana became the first Indian woman to score a double century in a domestic one day match. She also became the first Indian woman to score centuries across all three international formats.
Additionally, she jointly holds the record for the most international centuries in women’s cricket with 17. She also became the first woman cricketer to score more than 1,000 ODI runs in a calendar year.
TIME highlighted that Mandhana values team achievements as much as personal milestones. She captained Royal Challengers Bangalore to Women’s Premier League titles in 2024 and 2026.
She also played a key role as India’s vice captain during the team’s ICC Women’s World Cup triumph last year and finished among the tournament’s leading run scorers.
In 2024, Mandhana set the record for the highest international runs across formats in a calendar year by a woman. She later surpassed her own record and earned recognition as BBC Indian Sportswoman of 2025.
The TIME list also includes prominent international names from football, basketball, tennis and golf, reflecting the global impact of modern sport.
Now you can get the latest stories from Indtoday on Telegram every day. Click the link to subscribe. Click to follow Indtoday’s Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram. For all the latest Hyderabad News updates and Follow us on GoogleNews
