Mandhana now joins an elite club of global sporting icons featured in the annual ranking.

Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has achieved a historic milestone, becoming the only representative from India to be named in the prestigious TIME’S 100 Most Influential People in Sports list for 2026. This global recognition highlights her immense impact and rising stature within the international cricketing fraternity this year.

The publication describes the 29-year-old left-handed opening batter as a trailblazer, noting she is the first Indian woman to score a double century in a domestic one-day game. Furthermore, she is the first to record centuries across all three international formats and jointly holds the record for the most international women’s cricket centuries with seventeen.

Mandhana now joins an elite club of global sporting icons featured in the annual ranking. This exclusive group includes legendary figures such as basketball superstar LeBron James, football icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz, and golfer Rory McIlroy, all of whom have significantly shaped the modern sports landscape.

The comprehensive list encompasses a diverse range of athletes, visionary coaches, influential advocates, and key investors who are currently driving change. These individuals are recognized for their pivotal roles in evolving the business, culture, and competitive standards of global sports, representing the diverse disciplines that captivate millions of fans and investors worldwide today.

Beyond her remarkable individual statistics, her leadership as the vice-captain of India and her success in franchise cricket underscore a career defined by consistent excellence.