India’s dynamic opener and vice-captain, Smriti Mandhana, has made significant strides in the latest ICC Women’s ODI batter rankings, moving up one position to claim the third spot. This advancement comes as Sri Lanka‘s captain, Chamari Athapaththu, recorded low scores in the first two ODIs of the recently concluded series against Ireland, causing her to slip to fourth place with 727 rating points. Smriti Mandhana rises to 3rd in ICC Women’s ODI Rankings, eyeing the top spot ahead of T20 World Cup 2024.
Mandhana, who now boasts 738 rating points, remains India’s highest-ranked batter in both the ODI and T20I formats. She trails only England’s Natalie Sciver-Brunt, who leads the ODI rankings with 783 rating points, and South Africa‘s captain, Laura Wolvaardt, who is second with 755 rating points. However, with no ODIs scheduled for the Indian women‘s team until December, Mandhana will have to wait until the series against Australia later this year to have a shot at further climbing the rankings.
Upcoming Opportunities in T20Is
In the T20I rankings, Mandhana holds the fourth spot with 743 rating points. She will have a significant opportunity to rise to the top during the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, set to begin on October 3. Currently, Australia’s Beth Mooney leads the T20I rankings with 769 rating points, followed closely by her compatriot Tahlia McGrath with 762 points, and West Indies’ Hayley Matthews with 746 points.
Mandhana’s consistency and experience will be crucial for India as they prepare for the T20 World Cup. After participating in The Hundred, several Indian players, including Mandhana, are expected to play in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL), which will serve as a warm-up for the World Cup. The final phase of preparation will include warm-up matches starting in the last week of September.
Harmanpreet Kaur and Other Rankings Updates
While Mandhana remains the top-ranked Indian batter, captain Harmanpreet Kaur is the only other Indian in the top 10 of the ODI rankings, positioned ninth with 658 rating points. In contrast, India’s promising batter Jemimah Rodrigues saw a decline, slipping three spots to 33rd place in the ODI rankings. Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner moved up to 16th, while Ireland’s Orla Prendergast and Leah Paul made significant gains, climbing to 28th and 29th positions, respectively.
In the T20I rankings, Harmanpreet Kaur, Nigar Sultana of Bangladesh, and Anneke Bosch of South Africa each slipped one place, now holding the 17th, 16th, and 15th spots respectively. On the other hand, Sri Lanka’s Harshitha Samarawickrama has made an impressive leap, moving up three places to 13th.
Looking Ahead
Mandhana’s rise in the ICC rankings reflects her exceptional form and the consistency she has maintained across formats. As India gears up for the T20 World Cup 2024, all eyes will be on Mandhana to lead the charge and possibly clinch the top spot in the T20I rankings. Her performance will be pivotal as India seeks to make a strong statement in the global tournament.
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