The latest update from the International Cricket Council (ICC) has brought exciting news for Indian women's cricket fans. Dynamic opener Shafali Verma has made a significant leap in the T20I batting rankings, while the spin prowess of Deepti Sharma continues to dominate the bowling charts. This surge comes on the back of India's commanding performance in the ongoing T20I series against Sri Lanka.
Shafali Verma's Explosive Batting Rewarded
The 21-year-old batting prodigy, Shafali Verma, has climbed four places to secure the 6th position in the ICC Women's T20I rankings for batters. This remarkable jump is a direct result of her blistering form in the series against Sri Lanka. Her incredible run included a devastating 69 not out off just 34 balls in the second T20I. She didn't stop there, backing it up with two unbeaten scores of 79 runs each in the third and fourth matches held in Thiruvananthapuram, coming off 42 and 46 deliveries respectively. This consistent firepower has propelled the former world number one batter back into the top echelons of the game.
Indian Bowling Unit Shines Bright
While Shafali dazzled with the bat, the Indian bowling unit also made substantial gains. The experienced Deepti Sharma has firmly held on to her crown as the world's number one ranked T20I bowler. Joining her in the ascent is pace bowler Renuka Thakur, whose brilliant spell of 4 for 21 in the third T20I was instrumental in India's series-clinching victory. This performance saw Renuka skyrocket eight places to claim a joint-sixth spot in the bowlers' rankings.
The success story extends to the spin department as well. Left-arm spinners Sree Charani and Vaishnavi Sharma have seen impressive movements. Charani advanced 17 places to 52nd, while debutant Vaishnavi Sharma made a staggering leap of 390 places to reach the 124th position. These developments are crucial as the 50-over world champions fine-tune their squad for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 in England and Wales.
Other Notable Movements in Rankings
Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, who scored a fine 80 in the fourth T20I, has retained her third position among batters. However, Jemimah Rodrigues experienced a slight dip, slipping one place to 10th. For the visiting Sri Lankan side, opener Hasini Perera made a notable gain, jumping 114 places to 71st after consistent scores, and Kavisha Dilhari moved up three spots to 79th.
The comprehensive rankings update, released on December 30, 2025, underscores India's depth and form as they lead the five-match series 4-0. With the T20 World Cup on the horizon, these individual milestones signal a confident and in-form unit ready to take on global challenges.
