Indian star batter Smriti Mandhana has reclaimed the number 1 spot in the ICC Women’s One-Day International (ODI) batting rankings, according to information shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday in a press conference when they shared the ICC updates its players rankings. Smriti jumped back to the top for the first time in nearly 6 years.
This change came after South Africa’s captain, Laura Wolvaardt, fell in the rankings by losing 19 points. Although Smriti remained in the top 10 for a while, she hadn’t held the number 1 position since 2019. These updates have been given by the ICC on Tuesday. Her return to the peak highlights her strong form in recent matches.
Mandhana’s Century Pushes Her Forward
Mandhana played a key role for India in the final of the tri-series against South Africa and Sri Lanka in Colombo. She scored her 11th hundred in ODIs in that match. Her batting not only helped her team win but also improved her own ranking. Meanwhile, South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt scored 27 and 28 in her last two ODIs against the West Indies. That meant a drop in her points, allowing Smriti to move back to the number 1 spot in the batting charts.
Other players also made progress in the rankings. England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt jumped alongside Wolvaardt into joint 2nd place. South Africa’s Tazmin Brits and Sune Luus improved their positions after strong showings in the last few games.
Rising Players Among Bowlers and All-rounders
Some West Indies players made big moves in the batting rankings as well. Shemaine Campbell jumped up seven places to 62nd, while Qiana Joseph rose twelve places to 67th. Among bowlers, Afy Fletcher made a huge stride forward by collecting a 4-wicket haul against South Africa. Nonkululeko Mlaba and Chloe Tryon from South Africa also improved their standings in the bowlers’ charts. Mlaba jumped 6 positions to 23rd, and Tryon advanced 6 places to 45th. With her strong performance, Smriti Mandhana has successfully regained the number 1 spot and made a huge mark in international cricket once again.
