Sree Charani dethrones Linsey Smith to top ICC Women's T20I bowling rankings
Synopsis
At just 21, Sree Charani has done what few Indian bowlers achieve so early — reached No. 1 in the world. Ten wickets in three World Cup games, including a four-wicket haul against the Netherlands and a three-wicket effort against South Africa, were enough to topple England's Linsey Smith from the summit. It is the fastest rise to the top of the ICC Women's T20I Bowling Rankings for an Indian spinner in recent memory.
Key Takeaways
Sree Charani became the No.
1 ranked bowler in the ICC Women's T20I Bowling Rankings as of 23 June .
The 21-year-old left-arm spinner claimed 10 wickets in 3 World Cup appearances , including a four-wicket haul against the Netherlands in Leeds .
England's Linsey Smith slipped to third ; teammate Charlie Dean rose to second after a five-wicket World Cup haul.
Australia's Kim Garth made the biggest jump — up 25 places to enter the top 20.
In batting, Georgia Voll (Australia) held the No.
1 spot; India's Shafali Verma climbed to sixth and Harmanpreet Kaur entered the top 10 .
Marizanne Kapp (South Africa) rose five places to ninth after a Player of the Match display against India.
India's left-arm spinner Sree Charani has climbed to the top of the ICC Women's T20I Bowling Rankings for the first time in her career, powered by a match-winning run in the ongoing ICC Women's T20 World Cup. The latest rankings update, released on 23 June, confirmed her rise to the summit after she emerged as the tournament's leading wicket-taker.
How Charani Reached No. 1
The 21-year-old left-arm spinner displaced England's Linsey Smith from the top spot after claiming 10 wickets in just three World Cup appearances. Her decisive push came through back-to-back match-winning spells — a four-wicket haul against the Netherlands in Leeds, followed by a three-wicket effort against South Africa in Manchester. Those performances generated enough rating points to carry her past Smith and into the No. 1 position.
Notably, the four-wicket haul against the Netherlands was Charani's second such performance in international cricket, underlining a consistency that belies her relative inexperience. She made her international debut just over a year ago, making this ascent one of the fastest in recent women's cricket history.
Bowling Rankings: Key Movements
Linsey Smith slipped two places to third after a quiet start to the tournament. Her England teammate Charlie Dean moved into second position, aided by a five-wicket haul across England's opening three fixtures. Former world No. 1 Sophie Ecclestone climbed four places to fourth.
Elsewhere, West Indies captain Hayley Matthews surged nine spots to 11th, while Australia's Kim Garth recorded one of the biggest jumps in the update — advancing 25 positions to enter the top 20. Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana improved to 25th, and Ireland's Orla Prendergast reached 26th.
Batting Rankings: Steady at the Top
The batting standings saw little disruption at the summit. Australian opener Georgia Voll retained the No. 1 position despite managing only 62 runs across three World Cup innings. Fellow Australian Beth Mooney strengthened her grip on second place, narrowing the gap to the leader.
India's Shafali Verma climbed to sixth, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur moved up one place to enter the top 10. New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine advanced to 11th, and Prendergast continued her all-round rise, jumping four places to 13th. Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty also made headlines by breaking into the top 20.
All-Rounders and What Comes Next
The all-rounders' rankings remained stable at the top, with Hayley Matthews leading ahead of New Zealand's Melie Kerr. Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu advanced to third, while Prendergast and Fatima Sana moved to fifth and sixth, respectively. South Africa's Marizanne Kapp climbed five places to ninth after earning a Player of the Match award against India.
With the ICC Women's T20 World Cup still in progress, further ranking shifts are expected as the knockout stages approach — and Charani will be under pressure to defend her newly claimed top spot.
Point of View
And the fact that a 21-year-old debutant-year spinner is now its most potent weapon says as much about the depth of the pipeline as it does about Charani's individual talent. Whether the selectors can protect and develop her across formats without burning her out will be the longer story to watch.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sree Charani and why is she in the news?
Sree Charani is a 21-year-old Indian left-arm spinner who has reached the No. 1 position in the ICC Women's T20I Bowling Rankings for the first time in her career. She claimed 10 wickets in three ICC Women's T20 World Cup appearances, including a four-wicket haul against the Netherlands, to displace England's Linsey Smith from the top spot.
Who did Sree Charani displace to become the top-ranked T20I bowler?
Charani displaced England's Linsey Smith, who slipped two places to third in the updated rankings. Smith's teammate Charlie Dean moved into second position after a five-wicket haul across England's opening three World Cup fixtures.
How many wickets has Sree Charani taken in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup?
Charani has taken 10 wickets in three World Cup appearances, making her the tournament's leading wicket-taker. Her standout performances include a four-wicket haul against the Netherlands in Leeds and a three-wicket effort against South Africa in Manchester.
What are the latest ICC Women's T20I batting rankings?
Australian opener Georgia Voll holds the No. 1 batting ranking despite scoring only 62 runs in three World Cup innings. Beth Mooney is second, while India's Shafali Verma climbed to sixth and captain Harmanpreet Kaur entered the top 10.
Which bowler recorded the biggest ranking jump in the latest ICC Women's T20I update?
Australia's Kim Garth recorded the biggest jump, advancing 25 positions to enter the top 20. West Indies captain Hayley Matthews also made significant gains, surging nine spots to 11th in the bowling rankings.
