India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana rose one place to third in the latest ICC rankings for batters in women’s T20 Internationals, announced on Tuesday. The star Indian batter’s rise followed her blistering century against England in the first T20I at Nottingham.
Mandhana’s impressive 112 off 62 balls, which powered India to a commanding 97-run victory, helped her climb the rankings to a career-best 771 rating points. She now trails only Australia’s Beth Mooney and West Indies’ Hayley Matthews.
England pacer Lauren Bell also made significant progress, rising two places to a career-high fourth in the T20I bowling rankings after taking three wickets in the same match. Meanwhile, India debutant Shree Charani entered the rankings at 450th following her four-wicket haul that played a key role in England’s heaviest defeat in the format.
Already ranked world No. 1 in ODIs, Mandhana’s leap in the T20I rankings came after her maiden T20I century in the opening match of the five-match series against England, where she also stood in as captain for the injured Harmanpreet Kaur.
Mandhana’s innings featured 15 fours and three sixes, guiding India to the largest margin of victory by runs the hosts have suffered in the shortest format.
Among other Indian batters, Shafali Verma gained one place to move to 13th following her innings of 20 in the same game, while Harleen Deol re-entered the rankings at equal 86th after a quickfire 43.
The ICC noted that Pakistan spinner Sadia Iqbal remains top of the T20I bowling list, with just 44 rating points separating the top 10 players. South Africa’s Miane Smit reached 76th after her maiden half-century against the West Indies, and teammate Sune Luus climbed nine places to 31 in the all-rounders’ rankings.
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, the standout batter for her side, retained ninth position, gaining 20 rating points to reach a personal best of 663 following her 42-ball 66.
In the ODI rankings, Mandhana continues to hold the top spot, while Sciver-Brunt slipped one place to third.
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