In a significant shake-up of the ICC Women's Player Rankings, two star players have ascended to the pinnacle of their respective disciplines. India's versatile all-rounder Deepti Sharma has achieved the number one position among T20I bowlers for the first time in her career. Simultaneously, South Africa's captain, Laura Wolvaardt, has reclaimed the top spot in the ODI batting rankings.
Deepti Sharma's Historic Rise to the Top
The remarkable climb for Deepti Sharma followed her impactful performance in the opening T20 International against Sri Lanka in Vizag. Her spell of 1 for 20 from four overs was instrumental in India's comprehensive eight-wicket victory. This display earned her five crucial rating points, allowing her to dethrone Australia's Annabel Sutherland, who had held the top spot since August. Deepti now enjoys a slender one-point lead at the summit of the T20I bowling charts.
Her teammate, pacer Arundhati Reddy, also made notable gains from the same match, moving up five places to secure the 36th position among T20I bowlers. On the batting front, Jemimah Rodrigues was the standout performer, jumping five spots to reach ninth place. This promotion came after her match-winning, unbeaten half-century, which also earned her the Player of the Match award. Rodrigues now joins fellow Indians Smriti Mandhana (third) and Shafali Verma (tenth) in the elite top ten of the T20I batting rankings.
Laura Wolvaardt Reclaims ODI Batting Throne
In the 50-over format, South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt displayed phenomenal form to leapfrog India's Smriti Mandhana and regain the world number one ranking for ODI batters. Wolvaardt's achievement was powered by scoring back-to-back centuries in the final two matches of a three-game ODI series against Ireland. Her prolific run helped South Africa secure a clean 3-0 series sweep and propelled her to a career-high rating point tally.
As a direct result, Smriti Mandhana, who had previously held the top position, moved down to second place. Other South African players saw their rankings improve as well. All-rounder Sune Luus enjoyed a double rise, moving up seven places to 34th among ODI batters and surging eleven spots to 22nd in the ODI all-rounders' list, thanks to her valuable contributions with both bat and ball.
Irish Players Make Notable Strides
The latest rankings also highlighted the progress of the Irish women's team. Several of their players made significant upward moves following the competitive series against South Africa. In the bowling department, Arlene Kelly advanced five places to 27th among ODI bowlers. Among batters, Gaby Lewis climbed four spots to 18th, while Amy Hunter moved up three places to 28th. These gains underscore the growing competitiveness and development within the Irish squad across both bowling and batting units.
Overall, the updated ICC Women's Player Rankings reflect a period of outstanding individual performances across international cricket. Deepti Sharma's ascent to the T20I bowling summit and Laura Wolvaardt's return to the top of the ODI batting order cement their status as leading figures in the contemporary women's game, while also showcasing the global depth of talent emerging from nations like India, South Africa, and Ireland.
