Table of Contents
India’s star opener Smriti Mandhana has once again etched her name among the best in world cricket, climbing to the second spot in the ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings. Her stellar performances in the recent tri-series in Sri Lanka, where she powered India to the title with a match-winning century in the final, have brought her within striking distance of the coveted No. 1 position, just 11 rating points behind South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt.
Smriti Mandhana’s outstanding run in Women’s ODI Tri-Series
Mandhana’s rise in the rankings is a testament to her consistency and flair at the top of the order. In the fiercely contested tri-nation series against Sri Lanka and South Africa, she amassed 264 runs in five innings, finishing as the second leading run-scorer of the tournament. The highlight was her commanding 116 off 101 balls in the final against Sri Lanka-a knock laced with 15 fours and two sixes-that not only secured India’s 23-run victory but also marked her 11th ODI century, placing her behind only Meg Lanning and Suzie Bates for most hundreds in women’s ODIs.
Her aggressive approach was on full display, as she became India’s leading six-hitter in Women’s ODIs, overtaking captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s record with her 54th six during the final. This blend of power and finesse has made Mandhana a mainstay in the top echelons of the ICC rankings since her debut, and her latest surge is a reminder of her relentless drive for excellence.
Mandhana rises close to the top spot in ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings
Mandhana’s ascent to the second spot is not just a personal milestone but also signals a dynamic shift in women’s cricket. With 727 rating points, she is now breathing down the neck of Wolvaardt, who managed only 86 runs in the same series. Mandhana’s form has reignited the battle for the top ranking, which she last held in 2019, despite her consistent presence in the top 10 ever since.
Her rise has also inspired her teammates: Jemimah Rodrigues jumped five places to a career-best 15th after a dazzling 123 against South Africa, while Deepti Sharma’s all-round heroics saw her climb 13 spots to joint-32nd. The tri-series also saw notable gains for Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu, who rose to joint seventh, and South Africa’s Chloe Tryon, who leapt to 18th in the batting charts.
Also READ: Top 5 batters with most centuries in Women’s ODI cricket ft. Smriti Mandhana
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
