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Sports
Smriti Mandhana Only Indian on TIME's 100 Most Influential Sports People List
🗓 17 Jun 2026, 01:31 PM
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Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana has been recognized as the sole Indian on TIME magazine's prestigious list of the 100 most influential people in sports for 2026. The list celebrates individuals shaping the sports landscape today.
Cricketer Smriti Mandhana has earned a spot on TIME magazine's 2026 list of the 100 most influential people in sports, making her the only Indian to feature in this year's compilation. The list acknowledges athletes, coaches, advocates, and investors who are currently impacting the world of sports.
Mandhana, the 29-year-old vice-captain of the Indian women's national cricket team, is recognized for her significant achievements. TIME's profile highlights her as the first Indian woman to achieve a double century in a domestic one-day match and the first to score centuries in all three international formats. She also holds a joint record for the most international women's cricket centuries with 17.
The magazine further noted Mandhana's impressive record of being the first woman to score over 1,000 one-day international runs in a single calendar year. Her leadership on the field is also acknowledged, having captained the Royal Challengers Bangalore to Women's Premier League titles in 2024 and 2026, and serving as vice-captain for India's triumph at the ICC Women's World Cup, where she was the second-highest run-scorer.
Her consistent performance led to her being crowned BBC Indian Sportswoman of 2025. The list, headlined by basketball legend LeBron James, includes global sports icons such as Lionel Messi, Eileen Gu, Carlos Alcaraz, Victor Wembanyama, Rory McIlroy, Cristiano Ronaldo, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Mandhana, the 29-year-old vice-captain of the Indian women's national cricket team, is recognized for her significant achievements. TIME's profile highlights her as the first Indian woman to achieve a double century in a domestic one-day match and the first to score centuries in all three international formats. She also holds a joint record for the most international women's cricket centuries with 17.
The magazine further noted Mandhana's impressive record of being the first woman to score over 1,000 one-day international runs in a single calendar year. Her leadership on the field is also acknowledged, having captained the Royal Challengers Bangalore to Women's Premier League titles in 2024 and 2026, and serving as vice-captain for India's triumph at the ICC Women's World Cup, where she was the second-highest run-scorer.
Her consistent performance led to her being crowned BBC Indian Sportswoman of 2025. The list, headlined by basketball legend LeBron James, includes global sports icons such as Lionel Messi, Eileen Gu, Carlos Alcaraz, Victor Wembanyama, Rory McIlroy, Cristiano Ronaldo, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.