India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana continued her impressive run in the shortest format by retaining the No.2 position in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s T20I batting rankings released on March 24.
The rankings update also brought positive movement for Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who climbed to 14th place, reflecting her recent consistent performances.
Mandhana leads Indian batting charts
Mandhana remains the highest-ranked Indian batter in T20 Internationals, underlining her consistency at the top of the order. She continues to be a key pillar in India’s batting lineup across formats.
Meanwhile, Shafali Verma held firm at sixth place, ensuring India has two batters in the top 10. Jemimah Rodrigues also remained in contention just outside the elite list, retaining her joint 11th position.
The stable presence of multiple Indian batters in the rankings highlights the team’s growing depth and consistency in T20 cricket.
Gains in bowling and all-round rankings
India also saw encouraging movement in the bowling and all-rounder categories. Deepti Sharma moved up one place to third among bowlers and maintained her No.3 position in the all-rounders’ rankings.
Pacer Renuka Singh Thakur retained her sixth spot, continuing her strong presence among the top bowlers globally. However, Arundhati Reddy slipped just outside the top 10, dropping to 11th.
Global players make notable gains
The latest rankings update also witnessed several international players making significant progress. Australia’s Georgia Voll entered the top 10 in the batting rankings for the first time, marking a major milestone in her career.
New Zealand all-rounder Sophie Devine climbed to 18th following two consecutive half-centuries against South Africa.
A historic feat was achieved by Rwanda’s teenage cricketer Fanny Utagushimaninde, who debuted in the rankings at 66th position. She recently became the first woman to score a century on T20I debut and the youngest player across men’s and women’s cricket to achieve the landmark.
Emerging talents and experienced players rise
South Africa’s Annerie Dercksen, named ICC Emerging Player of the Year 2024, jumped 18 places to 55th after a strong performance against New Zealand.
Australia veteran Ellyse Perry also moved up to 20th, while West Indies’ Qiana Joseph climbed to 33rd. Other players like Maddy Green and Stafanie Taylor registered gains.
Changes in bowling rankings worldwide
Among bowlers, South Africa’s Nonkululeko Mlaba broke into the top 10, rising to ninth after an impressive series.
Australia’s Georgia Wareham advanced to 12th position, while New Zealand pacer Jess Kerr reached a career-best 15th.
South Africa’s Ayabonga Khaka and Australia’s Kim Garth also recorded notable improvements in the latest rankings.
Conclusion
The latest ICC Women’s T20I rankings reflect both stability and emerging dynamism in international cricket. While Smriti Mandhana continues to anchor India’s batting strength, the rise of global talents and steady performances from Indian players indicate a highly competitive and evolving landscape in women’s T20 cricket.