Southampton, July 16, 2025 – Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal made history in the first ODI against England, creating the best-ever start for India’s new left-right opening combo. In just their 12th innings together, the pair crossed 1,000 partnership runs, making them the third Indian opening duo to reach the milestone — joining Jaya Sharma–Anju Jain and Jaya Sharma–Karuna Jain
Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal , their average stands at an astonishing 84.6, the highest ever for any WODI opening pair (min 1,000 runs), surpassing England’s Caroline Atkins–Sarah Taylor (68.8) . During their innings against England, Mandhana posted a brisk 24-ball 28 and Rawal contributed significantly before falling for 36
Dominant Display
- 1,000-run landmark: Reached in just 12 innings — a top Indian duo feat
- Record-breaking average: 84.6, leading the global rankings for WODI opening pairs
- Strong performance: Mandhana (28 off 24) and Rawal (36) powered India to their second-highest chase ever — defeating England by 4 wickets
Best Average Opening Partnerships Women’s ODI (minimum 1000 runs)
| Player | Runs | Average |
| Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawat | 1016 | 84.66 |
| Caroline Atkins, Sarah Taylor | 1239 | 68.83 |
| Rachel Haynes, Alyssa Healy | 1839 | 63.41 |
Match Summary
In a thrilling chase of 259, India finished at 262/6 with 10 balls to spare. Deepti Sharma’s unbeaten 62 and a late 90-run stand with Jemimah Rodrigues sealed the win. Indian spinners Kranti Goud and Sneh Rana applied pressure in the middle overs, turning the tide
What It Means
This partnership cements India’s quest for a reliable opening pair—a quest seemingly resolved by Mandhana and Rawal. Their explosive yet composed starts set the tone, offering India strong foundations at the top. With this record, their confidence and synergy are surging just in time for the rest of the series.
Looking Ahead
With India leading 1–0 in the three-match series, momentum is fully on their side. The focus now turns to establishing sustained dominance across the series—and much of that rests on the shoulders of this in-form opening duo.
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