Smriti Mandhana has added another remarkable achievement to her growing legacy after being named in TIME magazine’s prestigious list of the 100 Most Influential People in Sports for 2026. The India vice-captain is the only Indian athlete to feature in this year’s edition, underlining her immense impact on global sport and the continued rise of women’s cricket on the world stage.
TIME’s annual list celebrates athletes, coaches, executives, investors, and changemakers who are shaping the future of sport. Mandhana finds herself in elite company alongside global icons such as LeBron James, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Alcaraz, Rory McIlroy, Eileen Gu, Victor Wembanyama, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
In its profile on Mandhana, TIME highlighted her role in transforming women’s cricket through a combination of record-breaking performances and consistent leadership. The publication noted that she became the first Indian woman to score a double century in a domestic one-day match and the first Indian woman cricketer to register centuries in all three international formats.
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The 29-year-old has also rewritten several batting records in recent years. Mandhana is tied for the most centuries in women’s international cricket with 17 and became the first player in women’s cricket to score more than 1,000 ODI runs in a calendar year. Her remarkable consistency has made her one of the most influential figures in the modern game.
Smriti Mandhana is only Indian among TIME magazine’s 100 most influential sportspersons. pic.twitter.com/Xu3vM97WgA
— News Algebra (@NewsAlgebraIND) June 16, 2026
Beyond international cricket, Mandhana has enjoyed significant success in franchise competitions. As captain, she guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Women’s Premier League titles in 2024 and 2026, further enhancing her reputation as one of the sport’s premier leaders.
TIME also acknowledged her vital contribution to India’s ICC Women’s World Cup-winning campaign, where she finished among the tournament’s leading run-scorers. Her performances on the biggest stages have continued to elevate the profile of women’s cricket worldwide.
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Adding to her list of accolades, Mandhana set the record for the most international runs scored by a woman across formats in a calendar year in 2024 before surpassing her own benchmark in 2025. That extraordinary run of form also earned her the prestigious BBC Indian Sportswoman Award, cementing her status as one of the most influential athletes in world sport.
