Indian openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal etched their names into the record books on Wednesday by registering the highest opening partnership for India in a Women’s World Cup match.
The pair put on an unbeaten 212-run stand against New Zealand Women at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, rewriting a record that had stood for more than a decade.
Shattering a Longstanding Record
Mandhana and Rawal’s 212-run opening partnership surpassed the previous record of 175 runs, set by Thirush Kamini and Punam Raut against West Indies during the 2013 edition at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.
Their partnership laid a solid foundation for India’s innings, dominating the Kiwi bowlers with elegant stroke play and fearless intent.
Consistent Partnership at the Top
This isn’t the first time the duo has delivered a strong start. Earlier this month, Mandhana and Rawal stitched together a 155-run stand against Australia in Visakhapatnam.
Mandhana also holds another notable record — a 144-run opening partnership with Punam Raut against England at Derby during the 2017 Women’s World Cup. Going further back, Anju Jain and Jwala Sharma had set an early benchmark with a 107-run stand against West Indies in 2005.
India’s Highest Women’s World Cup Opening Stands
| Partners | Runs | Out/Not Out | Opposition | Ground | Date |
| Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal | 212* | 1/212 | New Zealand Women | DY Patil, Navi Mumbai | 23 Oct 2025 |
| MDT Kamini, PG Raut | 175 | 1/175 | West Indies Women | Brabourne, Mumbai | 31 Jan 2013 |
| S Mandhana, P Rawal | 155 | 1/155 | Australia Women | Visakhapatnam | 12 Oct 2025 |
| S Mandhana, PG Raut | 144 | 1/144 | England Women | Derby | 24 Jun 2017 |
| A Jain, J Sharma | 107 | 1/107 | West Indies Women | Pretoria | 1 Apr 2005 |
A Partnership to Remember
The record-breaking stand reflects not only Mandhana’s reliability at the top but also Pratika Rawal’s rise as a dynamic opener. Their chemistry, strike rotation, and calculated aggression left New Zealand searching for answers.
As India continues its campaign, this partnership will go down as one of the most dominant opening displays in Indian women’s cricket history.
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