India’s fast bowler Renuka Singh’s spectacular performance in the Vadodara ODI, where she claimed 5 wickets for 29 runs, propelled her to a six-place ascent, landing her at 20th in the bowlers’ rankings with 497 points.
In a stellar display of form, Smriti Mandhana solidified her place in the upper echelons of international cricket, claiming second position in both the ICC T20I and ODI batting rankings, which were revealed on Tuesday. Mandhana, having moved up a rank in the T20I standings, retained her spot at second in the ODI rankings, following a series of brilliant displays against the West Indies in both formats.
The left-handed opener’s ODI rating stands at 739, trailing only Laura Wolvaardt, who leads with 773 points. In the T20I rankings, Mandhana’s rating of 753 is just shy of Beth Mooney’s 757. Throughout the week, Mandhana delivered impressive scores: 62 runs from 41 balls and 77 runs from 47 balls in the T20I series, thus securing a hat-trick of half-centuries against Hayley Matthews’ squad across all three matches.
The 28-year-old went on to contribute a crucial 91 runs from 102 balls in the opening ODI in Vadodara. This stellar performance means that Mandhana has now surpassed the 50-run mark in her last five consecutive international appearances. Matthews, too, displayed her remarkable prowess with the bat, amassing scores of 85 not out from 47 balls and 22 from 17 balls in the two T20Is. This consistency enabled Matthews to leap two spots, rising to a joint third place in the rankings with Tahlia McGrath, both now tied with a rating of 748.
Meanwhile, the bottom half of the ODI batting top-ten experienced several shifts, as the ICC Women’s Championship unfolded worldwide. Harmanpreet Kaur’s knock of 34 in Vadodara saw her surge three places, propelling her back into the top 10.
Australian opener Alyssa Healy’s performances, contributing 39 and 34 runs against New Zealand, saw her climb two spots, reaching 8th place with a rating of 640. Perhaps the most remarkable leap of the week came from Annabel Sutherland, who, with scores of 105 not out and 42, rocketed up 11 spots to 18th, accumulating 563 rating points.
Sutherland’s stellar all-round efforts continued, as she claimed 3 wickets for 39 runs in the third ODI, boosting her to 7th place in the All-Rounder rankings (301 points), surpassing both Sophie Devine and Chamari Athapaththu. While the ODI and T20I bowling rankings remained largely unchanged in the top ten, emerging talents across series in India and New Zealand made substantial gains.
Renuka Singh’s outstanding spell in the Vadodara ODI propelled her to 20th in the bowling rankings, thanks to her 5-wicket haul, amassing 497 points. Australia’s continued dominance in the ICC Women’s Championship was driven by stellar bowling performances, particularly from Alana King (who moved up two spots to 12th) and Kim Garth (who climbed four spots to 13th). Furthermore, Sutherland’s exceptional performance led to a three-place climb, reaching 17th in the bowling rankings.
New Zealand’s Melie Kerr also made significant strides, advancing to 11th place with 572 points in the bowling rankings.
With each match that unfolds in the ICC Women’s Championship, the global rankings continue to reflect the evolving nature of women’s cricket. Teams and individual players continue to rise and fall, their fortunes driven by momentous performances on the field, whether it be with the bat, the ball, or as an all-rounder. These rankings not only highlight the immense talent emerging on the world stage but also serve as a reminder of the fierce competition that drives each player to give their best.
Looking ahead, players like Mandhana, Matthews, and Healy, along with up-and-coming talents like Renuka Singh and Annabel Sutherland, are poised to create further shifts in the rankings. With a packed schedule of international fixtures across formats, every match presents an opportunity for these athletes to stake their claim as the best in the world.
For Indian cricket, Smriti Mandhana’s rise in both the ODI and T20I rankings represents a significant milestone. As vice-captain, her leadership and ability to deliver under pressure have only enhanced her reputation as one of the premier batswomen in global cricket. In tandem with players like Harmanpreet Kaur and Renuka Singh, Mandhana is helping to steer Indian women’s cricket into an exciting future, one where they are consistently challenging the world’s best.
As the cricketing calendar progresses, one can expect the rankings to continue to evolve, with fierce competition among the top players of the world. For now, however, Smriti Mandhana and Renuka Singh’s stellar performances serve as a beacon of excellence in the world of women’s cricket, heralding the rise of a new generation of cricketing icons.
