Indian batswoman Smriti Mandhana is on the cusp of reclaiming the No. 1 position in the ICC Women's ODI rankings, a feat she last achieved in 2019. Her recent outstanding performance in the tri-series, which featured South Africa and Sri Lanka, has propelled her closer to the coveted spot.
Mandhana, aged 28, displayed remarkable form throughout the series, accumulating 264 runs in just five innings. Her elegant stroke play and composure under pressure were instrumental in India's triumph. This performance has lifted her to the No. 2 position in the latest ICC Women's ODI Batting Rankings. She now trails South Africa's captain, Laura Wolvaardt, by a mere 11 rating points. Wolvaardt, while maintaining her top rank, managed only 86 runs in the same series, making her position vulnerable.
Mandhana's resurgence signals a strong possibility of her returning to the summit of 50-over cricket, a position she has consistently aimed for since her initial reign six years prior.
Several other Indian players also made significant strides in the ICC rankings. Jemimah Rodrigues, with her valuable contributions throughout the series, ascended five places to secure the 15th position in the ODI batter rankings. Spinner Sneh Rana, who was named Player of the Series for her outstanding performance, climbed four places to joint 34th in the ICC ODI Bowler Rankings. Rana's 15 wickets at an impressive average of 14 made her a constant threat, particularly on spin-friendly pitches. England's Sophie Ecclestone continues to lead the bowler rankings.
Deepti Sharma, India's bowling all-rounder, also impressed with both bat and ball, moving up one spot to No. 5 in the ODI All-Rounder Rankings.
Sri Lanka's captain, Chamari Athapaththu, also made positive gains, moving up two places to joint-seventh in the ODI batter rankings. South Africa's Chloe Tryon improved across all fronts, climbing nine spots to 18th in the ODI batter rankings and three positions to 11th in the all-rounder rankings. Her teammate, Nadine de Klerk, moved up to 24th among ODI bowlers and climbed four spots to 12th in the all-rounder list.