Image: Smriti Mandhana is ranked second in T20Is and ODIs but is closing in on becoming No1 / © The Teenager Today
In the Women’s cricket world, Smriti Mandhana is on the verge of making history as she closes in on the No. 1 spot in both the ICC Women’s T20I and ODI Batter Rankings. Currently ranked second in both formats, Mandhana has been in outstanding form, with a rating of 739 in ODIs, just 34 points behind leader Laura Wolvaardt (773). In T20Is, Mandhana’s rating of 753 is only 4 points shy of the top-ranked Beth Mooney (757).
Her remarkable performances in the ongoing series against the West Indies have propelled her to this position. Mandhana scored 62 off 41 balls and 77 off 47 balls in the recent T20I series, completing a hat-trick of half-centuries. She also played a stellar knock of 91 runs off 102 balls in the first ODI, marking her fifth consecutive score of 50+ in international cricket.
With two more ODIs left against the West Indies, Mandhana has a golden opportunity to claim the top rank in both formats. Other notable performances in the rankings include West Indies’ Hayley Matthews and India’s Harmanpreet Kaur, who both saw significant climbs in the ICC Women’s rankings.