India’s Smriti Mandhana continues to reign supreme at the top of the ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings. She has successfully held her coveted number one position despite impressive performances from several rivals during the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. Mandhana, who entered the tournament as the top-ranked ODI batter, has maintained her commanding lead through a series of consistent starts and a stellar record over the past year. Even as other players climbed the charts with significant scores, the Indian opener’s advantage remains unchallenged, a testament to her steady form and undeniable dominance in the 50-over format.
This week saw notable shifts in the rankings among other players. South Africa’s Tazmin Brits, for instance, made a remarkable ascent, moving up two places to a career-high fourth position following her brilliant century against New Zealand. Australia’s dynamic all-rounder, Ash Gardner, also advanced significantly, climbing seven spots to fifth after her match-winning hundred earlier in the tournament.
While Mandhana shines at the top, it’s worth noting that no other Indian batter currently features in the top 15 of these rankings. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who initially held the 14th spot, has unfortunately slipped two places in the latest update. On a positive note for India, Deepti Sharma improved her standing by one position, now sitting at 17th. Meanwhile, New Zealand captain Sophie Devine and Pakistan opener Sidra Amin have both broken into the top ten thanks to their strong World Cup outings.
Devine’s impressive run saw her climb seven places to eighth, and Amin’s consistent efforts propelled her three spots higher, securing a place in the top 10 for the first time in her career. Despite these significant gains from her rivals, the 29-year-old Indian star, Smriti Mandhana, has successfully maintained her substantial lead at the pinnacle of the rankings. This achievement highlights her exceptional consistency and undeniable value to the Indian batting line-up, as her skill has been instrumental in providing crucial stability at the top of the order during the initial stages of the competition.
Turning to the bowling charts, England’s Sophie Ecclestone maintains her dominant position at the top, with only minor adjustments among those trailing her. South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp and Australia’s Alana King each climbed a spot, securing fifth and seventh positions respectively. Beyond the top ten, South African spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba and Australian pacer Annabel Sutherland both achieved new career-high rankings with significant leaps.
In the all-rounder category, Ash Gardner from Australia solidified her hold on the top position, achieving a new career-best rating following her outstanding performance against New Zealand. Her teammate, Kim Garth, moved up to 18th, and Sophie Devine’s impressive all-round display elevated her to ninth place.
For the time being, Smriti Mandhana’s firm grip on the top spot in the ODI batting rankings remains unshaken. With challenging matches ahead against formidable teams like South Africa, Australia, and England, the stage is perfectly set for her to further demonstrate why she truly deserves to be recognized as the world’s premier batter.
Adding to her accolades, Mandhana has also been nominated for the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for September, alongside century-maker Tazmin Brits and Pakistan’s Sidra Amin, highlighting her consistent excellence.