Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma has achieved a major feat by reaching the top of the International Cricket Council Women’s T20 Bowling Rankings for the first time in her career. Opener Smriti Mandhana slipped to second place in the ODI batting list as Laura Wolvaardt regained the No. 1 spot.
Deepti bowled economically against Sri Lanka in the opening T20 match in Visakhapatnam on Sunday, 21 December. She conceded just 20 runs in four overs and dismissed Hasini Perera, helping the hosts restrict Sri Lanka to 121 runs. India chased the target easily and won by eight wickets with 5.2 overs remaining.
Deepti Sharma becomes world No. 1 in ICC women’s T20I bowling rankings
Deepti Sharma reached the top of the ICC Women’s T20I bowling rankings for the first time in her career. She has overtaken Australian cricketer Annabel Sutherland, Sharma has 737 rating points, while Sutherland is in second place with 736 points.
After the Sri Lanka match, Indian fast bowler Arundhati Reddy moved up five places to reach 36th position. Changes were also seen in the batting rankings, among the Indian batsmen, Jemimah Rodrigues benefited the most.
After her unbeaten half-century against Sri Lanka, Jemimah moved up five places to ninth position. India now have three players in the top 10 of T20I batting, with Smriti Mandhana at third and Shafali Verma at 10th.
Latest ICC Women’s T20I Bowling Rankings – Top 10:
| Post | player | Team | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deepti Sharma | India | 737 |
| 2 | Annabel Sutherland | Australia | 736 |
| 3 | Saadia Iqbal | Pakistan | 732 |
| 4 | Sophie Ecclestone | England | 727 |
| 5 | lauren bell | England | 714 |
| 6 | nonkululeko mlaba | South Africa | 705 |
| 7 | Georgia Wareham | Australia | 704 |
| 7 | Charlie Dean | England | 704 |
| 9 | Afi Fletcher | west indies | 702 |
| 10 | Nashra Sandhu | Pakistan | 700 |
Laura Wolvaardt reclaims No. 1 spot in ICC women’s ODI batting rankings
Laura Wolvaardt reclaimed the top spot in the ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings after the home series against Ireland. He scored consecutive centuries in the last two matches. Wolvaardt has 820 rating points and has moved ahead of Smriti Mandhana, who slipped nine points behind to second place.
Wolvaardt helped South Africa win the series 3–0 and achieved a career-best rating. South African cricketer Sune Luus jumped seven places to 34th among ODI batsmen and climbed 11 places to 22nd in the all-rounders’ list after contributing with both bat and ball.
Irish players also benefited. Arlene Kelly moved up five places to 27th in the ODI bowling rankings, while batsmen Gabby Lewis and Amy Hunter moved up to 18th and 28th respectively.
Latest ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings – Top 10:
| Post | player | Team | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laura Wolvaardt | South Africa | 820 |
| 2 | Smriti Mandhana | India | 811 |
| 3 | Ashley Gardner | Australia | 738 |
| 4 | Nat Sciver-Brunt | England | 714 |
| 5 | beth mooney | Australia | 700 |
| 6 | Alyssa Healy | Australia | 688 |
| 7 | Sophie Devine | new zealand | 669 |
| 7 | elise perry | Australia | 669 |
| 9 | hayley matthews | west indies | 663 |
| 10 | jemima rodrigues | India | 658 |
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