Indian batting sensation Smriti Mandhana and South African skippers Temba Bavuma have gained international prominence after being featured in TIME magazine’s coveted list of “TIME 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026”. The only two cricketers on this year’s list, have been put in the “Titans” category next to some of the biggest names in world sport.
Mandhana’s selection also displays her astounding rise as a global figure in women’s cricket. In the recent past, Mandhana has been setting new records that will be hard to break for the upcoming generations. Mandhana went on to note that this made her the first Indian woman to score centuries across all three international formats, and she has cemented her place as one of the most productive batters in women’s cricket history.
Mandhana’s achievements, however, are not limited to international cricket. Mandhana was instrumental for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their Women’s Premier League title wins and an integral part of India during their triumphant ICC Women’s World Cup run. She was universally lauded, including winning the BBC Indian Sportswoman award.
This comes at an appropriate time as Mandhana is taking part in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England. Of late, Mandhana played most vital role in India’s victory after scoring half century against Pakistan.
On the other side, Bavuma’s spot on the list is representative of both what he’s done on the field and also off of it. Bavuma has become a beacon of hope in South Africa as the first-ever Black permanent captain for the side. He took it to another level as he captained South Africa to their first major ICC trophy in the World Test Championship.
Bavuma has accomplished a few historic landmarks in the course of an extended cricketing journey. He was the first Black South African cricketer to make a Test century, and then captained the national side through its most successful era. Add to that a courageous Will Smith display (he played through injury) in the World Test Championship final – you earn respect as a leader when your whole team stands up and he did just that.
By featuring Mandhana and Bavuma on its prestigious sports influencer list, TIME reflects cricket’s expanding global profile and recognizes two outstanding athletes whose athletic prowess, leadership skills, and passion for the sport inspire millions.
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