Charani first Indian bowler past 800 in ICC T20I rankings, Deepti jumps to No.2
Synopsis
Sree Charani has become the first Indian bowler — and only the third ever — to cross the 800-rating mark in ICC Women's T20I rankings, registering 804 after a 12-wicket Asia Cup 2026 campaign. She now stands just two rating points away from Megan Schutt's all-time record of 806, making her the most compelling chase in women's cricket rankings history.
Key Takeaways
Sree Charani is the first Indian bowler to breach the 800-rating mark in ICC Women's T20I bowling rankings, reaching 804 as of 15 September 2026 .
She claimed 4 for 20 in the Asia Cup 2026 final against Sri Lanka and ended the tournament with 12 wickets .
Only Megan Schutt (806) and Sophie Ecclestone (802) have previously touched the 800-rating threshold in Women's T20Is.
Deepti Sharma jumped four places to reach No.2 in the bowling rankings with a rating of 729 , having taken 14 wickets — the most in the Asia Cup 2026.
Shafali Verma rose to No.6 in T20I batting rankings after a 68-run knock in the final, and moved up five places to No.15 in the all-rounders' list.
India won the Asia Cup 2026 for a record-extending eighth time .
Sree Charani has etched her name in Indian cricket history, becoming the first Indian bowler — and only the third in the world — to breach the 800-rating mark in the ICC Women's T20I bowlers' rankings, following the latest update on Tuesday, 15 September 2026. The left-arm spinner now sits atop the global rankings with a rating of 804, a milestone that follows a dominant campaign in the Asia Cup 2026.
The Performance That Sealed History
Charani's record-breaking rating was powered by a standout outing in the Asia Cup 2026 final against Sri Lanka, where she returned figures of 4 for 20 in the title decider. Across the tournament, she claimed 12 wickets, cementing her status as the most potent spinner in the women's game right now.
The achievement also sees her surpass Poonam Yadav's record for the most wickets taken by an Indian bowler in a calendar year — a national benchmark that had stood unchallenged until Charani's extraordinary 2026 run.
Where She Stands Globally
Only two bowlers in history have previously reached the 800-rating threshold in Women's T20I rankings. Australia pacer Megan Schutt holds the all-time peak of 806, while former world No.1 Sophie Ecclestone of England touched 802. Charani, now at 804, is within striking distance of Schutt's historic high-water mark.
Deepti Sharma Surges to No.2
Star all-rounder Deepti Sharma has also benefited from a stellar Asia Cup campaign, leaping four places to claim the No.2 spot in the T20I bowlers' list with a rating of 729. Deepti's 3 for 19 in the final contributed to her finishing as the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 14 scalps — a haul that underlines India's bowling depth.
While Deepti's rise is significant, she trails Charani by a substantial 75 rating points, leaving the top position firmly in her compatriot's grasp for now.
Shafali Verma Climbs in Batting and All-Rounder Charts
The good news for India extended beyond the bowling rankings. Opener Shafali Verma, who played a match-winning knock of 68 in the Asia Cup final, moved up one place to reach the sixth position in the T20I batters' rankings. She also climbed five places in the T20I all-rounders' list to reach No.15 globally.
The rankings surge across three disciplines reflects a collective Indian performance at the Asia Cup, which the team won for a record-extending eighth time.
What This Means for Indian Women's Cricket
This is the first time India has had two bowlers simultaneously ranked inside the top two of the ICC T20I bowling charts — a marker of the depth and consistency the team has built ahead of the next ICC cycle. With the T20 World Cup on the horizon, Charani's form and Deepti's emergence as a genuine No.2 make India one of the most potent bowling attacks in the women's game. Eyes will now turn to whether Charani can surpass Schutt's 806 and claim the highest-ever rating in Women's T20I bowling history.
Point of View
India relied on batters to carry tournaments; now, with Charani and Deepti holding the top two ICC bowling spots simultaneously, the dynamic has shifted. The more compelling question is whether Charani can surpass Schutt's 806 — a record set under different match conditions and a less congested calendar. If she does, it will be the clearest signal yet that Indian women's bowling has moved from dependent on one or two specialists to a genuine force capable of sustaining world-record-level performance.
NationPress
15 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sree Charani and what record has she broken?
Sree Charani is an Indian left-arm spinner who has become the first Indian bowler to cross the 800-rating mark in the ICC Women's T20I bowling rankings, reaching a rating of 804 after the Asia Cup 2026. She is only the third bowler in history to achieve this milestone, after Megan Schutt and Sophie Ecclestone.
What is the highest-ever rating in Women's T20I bowling rankings?
The highest-ever rating in Women's T20I bowling is 806, set by Australia pacer Megan Schutt. Charani's current rating of 804 places her just two points short of that all-time record.
How did Deepti Sharma perform in the Asia Cup 2026?
Deepti Sharma was the leading wicket-taker in the Asia Cup 2026 with 14 scalps, including 3 for 19 in the final. Her performance earned her a four-place jump in the ICC T20I bowling rankings, taking her to No.2 with a rating of 729.
What happened to Shafali Verma in the latest ICC rankings?
Shafali Verma moved up one place to No.6 in the ICC Women's T20I batting rankings after her match-winning 68 in the Asia Cup final. She also climbed five places in the all-rounders' list to reach No.15.
How many times has India won the Women's Asia Cup?
India won the Women's Asia Cup 2026 for a record-extending eighth time, defeating Sri Lanka in the final — a victory that also served as the backdrop for Charani's history-making bowling performance.
