NEW DELHI: The Indian women’s cricket team achieved a remarkable feat on the second day of the ongoing one-off Test against South Africa. Having declared their innings at 603/6, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side recorded the highest team total in women’s Test cricket history, surpassing the previous best of 575/9 set by Australia earlier this year in Perth.

India’s record-breaking total was propelled by an outstanding opening partnership between Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana. The duo shared an iconic stand of 292 runs, which is the highest opening partnership in women’s Test cricket to date. Verma’s exceptional innings of 205 runs and Mandhana’s solid contribution of 149 runs laid the foundation for India’s monumental total.

The Indian batting lineup continued to dominate the South African bowling attack, with Jemimah Rodrigues chipping in with a valuable 55 runs. The team’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, and wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh remained unbeaten at the crease, both having scored past their respective half-centuries.

India’s record-breaking performance was not limited to the second day alone. On the first day of the Test match, they had already etched their names in the history books by posting the highest-ever single-day total in a Test match. Their score of 525 for four surpassed the previous record held by the Sri Lankan men’s team, who had scored 509 for nine against Bangladesh in Colombo in 2002.


This remarkable achievement by the Indian women’s cricket team displays their batting mettle and their ability to dominate on the international stage. It also means the growing strength and competitiveness of women’s cricket, which has been gaining significant momentum and recognition in recent years.

While individual performances played a crucial role in this historic feat, it was a collective effort by the Indian batting unit that enabled them to rewrite the record books. Their determination, skill, and unwavering focus were on full display, as they methodically built their innings and capitalized on the opportunities presented by the South African bowling attack.