Mandhana’s Blistering Century Propels Her to T20I Apex
Indian cricket sensation Smriti Mandhana has ascended to the third spot in the ICC T20I Rankings for batters, a meteoric rise fueled by her magnificent, maiden century against England. The vice-captain, already recognized as the world’s premier ODI batter, stepped up to lead the Indian side in the crucial absence of the injured Harmanpreet Kaur, delivering a performance that will be etched in history.
A Masterclass in Power-Hitting Against England
Despite her humble post-match remark that the T20I format wasn’t her primary strength, Mandhana’s bat spoke volumes. Her innings against England at Nottingham was a breathtaking display of controlled aggression and exquisite timing. The left-handed opener showcased her remarkable power-hitting prowess, predominantly finding the ropes on the off-side with an elegant touch, while unleashing three towering maximums over the on-side.
This unforgettable performance saw Mandhana smash 112 runs off just 62 deliveries, adorned with 15 crisp fours and three impactful sixes. Her century single-handedly powered India to a commanding 97-run victory – a result that inflicted England’s largest defeat by runs in the shortest format of the game, a truly remarkable achievement on their home turf.
Climbing the T20I Batting Ranks: A Career-High
The sheer brilliance of her Nottingham knock has propelled Smriti Mandhana to a career-high 771 rating points in the ICC T20I rankings. She now sits comfortably at number three, breathing down the necks of West Indies’ dynamic Hayley Matthews, who holds second place with 774 points, and Australia’s consistent Beth Mooney, who remains at the summit with 794 points. Her presence so close to the top in both major white-ball formats underscores her growing global dominance.
Indian Batting Brilliance Beyond Mandhana
The gains weren’t limited to Mandhana alone, signaling a collective upward trend for Indian batters. Comeback opener Shafali Verma, known for her explosive starts, saw her efforts rewarded with a one-place jump to 13th in the same rankings list, following her valuable 20 runs in the pivotal match against England. Similarly, Harleen Deol, with her quickfire knock of 43, re-entered the batter rankings, now placed at an impressive equal 86th position, showcasing India’s depth.
Global T20I Movers: Bowlers and All-Rounders
Beyond the batting charts, other significant movements were noted across the T20I landscape. England’s fast bowler Lauren Bell made a notable ascent, moving up two places to fourth in the rankings for bowlers, thanks to her impressive three-wicket haul in the same T20I fixture against India.
The top of the T20I bowlers’ list remains fiercely contested, with Pakistan’s spin maestro Sadia Iqbal holding onto the number one spot. The ICC’s latest release highlighted the intense competition, noting that a mere 44 rating points separate the top 10 players, a testament to the high quality of global T20I bowling. In the all-rounders’ category, South Africa’s Miane Smit made strides with her maiden half-century against the West Indies, while her teammate Sune Luus climbed an impressive nine spots to reach 31st, further illustrating the dynamic shifts within international T20 cricket.
