Smriti Mandhana Only Indian In TIME’s 100 Most Influential People In Sports List

India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has been named among TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026 , emerging as the only Indian sportsperson to feature on the prestigious global list.

The annual ranking honours athletes, coaches, administrators, advocates and investors who are shaping the future of sports worldwide. Headlined by basketball legend LeBron James, the list also includes global sporting icons such as Lionel Messi (Football/Soccer), Cristiano Ronaldo (Football/Soccer), Carlos Alcaraz (Tennis),Rory McIlroy (Golf), Victor Wembanyama (Basketball), Eileen Gu (Freestyle Skiing).

TIME highlighted Mandhana’s remarkable journey and achievements, describing her as one of the most influential figures in modern women’s cricket. The 29-year-old left-handed opener was recognised for becoming the first Indian woman to score a double century in a domestic one-day match and the first Indian woman to register centuries in all three international formats .

The magazine also noted that Mandhana is a joint holder of the record for the most centuries in women’s international cricket with 17 hundreds , while continuing to set new benchmarks in the sport. She also became the first woman cricketer to score more than 1,000 ODI runs in a calendar year .

Beyond individual milestones, TIME praised Mandhana’s contribution to team success. She captained Royal Challengers Bangalore to Women’s Premier League titles in 2024 and 2026 and served as vice-captain during India’s ICC Women’s World Cup triumph last year , finishing among the tournament’s leading run-scorers.

The recognition is significant not only for Mandhana but also for the growing stature of women’s sports in India . Her inclusion reflects the increasing global visibility of women athletes and the rapid rise of women’s cricket as a commercially viable and widely followed sport. It also signals a shift in how female athletes are perceived, with their influence extending beyond sporting achievements to leadership, representation and cultural impact.

Mandhana’s presence on the list also highlights the role of sport as an instrument of soft power . As one of India’s most recognisable sporting personalities, she helps project the country’s talent, aspirations and sporting excellence to a global audience. Her recognition by TIME underscores how Indian women athletes are increasingly shaping international sporting conversations and enhancing India’s global profile through excellence on and off the field.