Sree Charani Soars to the Top of ICC Women's T20I Bowling Rankings!
Sree Charani's Historic Achievement
Dubai: Sree Charani, a left-arm spinner from India, has achieved a remarkable milestone by reaching the top of the ICC Women’s T20I Bowling Rankings for the first time. This accomplishment comes after her outstanding performances in the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, where she has been instrumental in her team's success.
At just 21 years old, Charani has made a significant impact, becoming the leading wicket-taker in the tournament and surpassing England's Linsey Smith for the top spot.
Since her international debut a little over a year ago, Charani's career has rapidly progressed. She has emerged as a key player for India, taking 10 wickets in just three World Cup matches.
Her ascent to the top was fueled by impressive performances, including a four-wicket haul against the Netherlands in Leeds, followed by a three-wicket display against South Africa in Manchester. These efforts earned her enough points to surpass Smith and claim the title of the highest-ranked T20I bowler in women's cricket.
While Charani celebrated her success, Linsey Smith fell to third place after a slow start in the World Cup. Her teammate, Charlie Dean, moved up to second place thanks to a five-wicket haul in England's first three matches.
The latest rankings also saw notable changes among other bowlers. Former world No. 1 Sophie Ecclestone climbed to fourth, while West Indies captain Hayley Matthews jumped nine spots to 11th. Australia's Kim Garth made a significant leap, moving up 25 positions to enter the top 20. Pakistan's Fatima Sana improved to 25th, and Ireland's Orla Prendergast also made strides, reaching 26th.
In the batting rankings, Australian opener Georgia Voll maintained her No. 1 position despite scoring only 62 runs in three World Cup innings. Fellow Australian Beth Mooney solidified her second place, closing the gap to the leader.
Among the rising batters, India's Shafali Verma climbed to sixth, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur entered the top 10. New Zealand's Sophie Devine also moved up to 11th, and Prendergast continued her ascent by jumping four places to 13th. Bangladesh's Nigar Sultana Joty also made headlines by breaking into the top 20.
The all-rounders' rankings remained stable at the top, with Hayley Matthews leading ahead of New Zealand's Melie Kerr. Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu advanced to third, while Prendergast and Fatima Sana moved up to fifth and sixth, respectively. South Africa's Marizanne Kapp also had a successful week, climbing five places to ninth after her Player of the Match performance against India.