THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Dubai, June 17: Smriti Mandhana has reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the ICC Women’s ODI batting rankings, marking her return to the top for the first time since 2019.
The Indian vice-captain surged ahead after South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt dropped 19 rating points, allowing Mandhana to climb with a total of 727 points.
England skipper Natalie Sciver-Brunt is close behind with 719 points, the same as Wolvaardt, who now occupies the third position due to decimal differences.
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Mandhana’s rise comes on the back of her exceptional form, including a commanding century in the final of the recent tri-series in Colombo featuring Sri Lanka and South Africa — her 11th in ODI cricket.
This return to the top ends a six-year gap since Mandhana last led the rankings. She has consistently featured in the top 10 over the past few years but hadn’t reached No. 1 since early 2019.
Other Indian batters on the list include Jemimah Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur, ranked 14th and 15th respectively. Mandhana also holds the fourth spot in the ICC T20I batting rankings.
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India will soon face England in a series comprising five T20Is and three ODIs later this month, offering more opportunities for the rankings to shift.
