Smriti Mandhana has secured a place on TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026 list, becoming the only Indian athlete recognised in a global ranking that spans some of the most prominent names across sport. The honour places the India Vice-Captain alongside figures such as LeBron James, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Alcaraz, Rory McIlroy, Victor Wembanyama, Eileen Gu, Jalen Brunson and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, reflecting the growing international profile of both Mandhana and women’s cricket.
TIME describes the annual ranking as recognising athletes, coaches, executives, investors and other influential figures who are “people shaping sports today.” Among cricket’s representatives, Mandhana and South Africa Captain Temba Bavuma were the only players from the sport to feature on the 2026 list.
Recognition built on sustained excellence
Mandhana’s inclusion follows a remarkable run of achievements across international and franchise cricket. The left-hander has scored more than 10,000 international runs, is a joint holder of the record for the most centuries in women’s international cricket with 17, has registered more than 70 half-centuries, and has represented India in close to 300 matches across Tests, One-Day Internationals and T20 Internationals.
Writing in TIME magazine, Charlie Campbell, TIME Editor-at-Large, said: “The records keep tumbling in for Smriti Mandhana. The Mumbai-born left-handed opening batter was the first Indian woman to score a double century in a domestic one-day game, the first to score a century in all three international formats, and is a joint holder of the most international women’s cricket centuries with 17. Mandhana is also the first woman to score more than 1,000 one-day international runs in a calendar year.”
Beyond the volume of runs, Mandhana’s career has been marked by a series of milestones that have helped redefine expectations in the women’s game. She became the first Indian woman to score a double century in a domestic one-day match and the first from the country to register centuries in all three international formats, achievements that have cemented her place among the leading batters of her generation.
Success across international and franchise cricket
The recognition is also tied to a period in which Mandhana has combined individual milestones with major team achievements. Her leadership role within Royal Challengers Bengaluru and her contributions to India’s recent success have added another dimension to her standing within the game.
Campbell wrote: “But Mandhana is proudest of the team honors she is also accumulating. She captained the Royal Challengers Bangalore [Bengaluru] to the 2024 and 2026 Women’s Premier League titles and was vice captain for India’s triumph at last year’s ICC Women’s World Cup, scoring the second-most runs in the tournament.”
Mandhana’s impact has extended beyond trophies and leadership responsibilities. In 2024, she established a new women’s record for the most international runs scored across formats in a calendar year before surpassing her own mark the following season, a run of form that contributed to her being named BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year for 2025.
Cricket’s place among global sporting powerhouses
While the list is dominated by athletes and leaders from some of the world’s largest sports, cricket’s representation was limited to just two names. Bavuma’s inclusion follows a period in which he led South Africa to major success on the international stage, including the nation’s World Test Championship triumph.
For Mandhana, the recognition represents another landmark in a career that has increasingly transcended cricket itself. As the only Indian athlete selected and one of only two cricketers featured, her presence on the list underscores both her personal influence and the growing prominence of women’s cricket within the global sports industry.
