Is Smriti Mandhana About to Reclaim the No. 1 Women’s ODI Batter Title?

Dubai, May 13 (NationPress) India’s left-handed batswoman, Smriti Mandhana, is drawing closer to recapturing the ICC Women’s ODI No.1 batter title — a position she last enjoyed in 2019 — following an outstanding performance in the recent tri-series featuring South Africa and Sri Lanka.

At 28, Mandhana showcased her remarkable skills throughout the tri-series, accumulating 264 runs across five innings. Her exceptional consistency, elegant stroke play, and ability to handle pressure not only led India to victory but also elevated her to No.2 in the latest ICC Women's ODI Batting Rankings.

Currently, she trails the top-ranked player and South Africa captain, Laura Wolvaardt, by just 11 rating points, who managed only 86 runs in the same series.

Even though Wolvaardt remains the leading ODI batter, she faces a significant challenge from Mandhana, whose recent performances hint at a potential return to the pinnacle of 50-over cricket — a position she has been striving to reclaim for years since her initial reign six years ago.

While Mandhana garnered attention, several of her teammates also made impressive advancements in the ICC rankings update. Jemimah Rodrigues, contributing significantly throughout the series, rose five places to 15th in the ODI batter rankings.

Spinner Sneh Rana emerged as one of the tournament’s standout players, earning the title of Player of the Series. With 15 wickets at an average of just 14, Rana proved to be a constant threat, particularly on spin-friendly pitches. Her performance propelled her four spots up to joint 34th in the ICC ODI Bowler Rankings, currently led by England’s Sophie Ecclestone.

India's bowling all-rounder Deepti Sharma also made a mark during the series, providing crucial contributions with both bat and ball. Her all-around performance enabled her to rise one position to No.5 in the ODI All-Rounder Rankings.

The tri-series proved beneficial not only for Indian players. Sri Lanka’s captain Chamari Athapaththu, a stalwart of her team’s batting lineup, also progressed positively. With 139 runs throughout the series, Athapaththu climbed two places to joint-seventh in the ODI batter rankings.

South Africa’s Chloe Tryon had a remarkable series as well, improving her standings across the board. She moved up nine spots to 18th in the ODI batter rankings, while also climbing three positions to 11th in the all-rounder rankings.

Her teammate, seam-bowling all-rounder Nadine de Klerk, also had a successful series, advancing to 24th among ODI bowlers and climbing four spots to 12th in the all-rounder list.

--IAND

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