Deepti Sharma Rises to 5th, Smriti Mandhana Stays No.1 in ODI Rankings

India's Deepti Sharma advanced two positions to fifth in the latest ICC Women's ODI bowler rankings, while teammate Smriti Mandhana solidified her lead at the top of the batters' list with a career-high rating of 818. The updates, released on Tuesday, reflect standout performances from the recent India-Australia series and other international matches, heightening anticipation ahead of the Women's ODI World Cup starting September 30 in Guwahati, India.

Mandhana's dominance stems from her two centuries in the three-match home series against Australia, which the visitors won 2-1. Her explosive form has widened her gap over challengers, including Australia's Beth Mooney, who rose two spots to third with 727 points. In a remarkable surge, South Africa's Tazmin Brits vaulted 15 places to sixth (669 points), fueled by consecutive unbeaten hundreds in Pakistan's series win in Lahore. Brits, averaging 91.85 at a strike rate of 94.14 in 2025 ODIs with 643 runs, has rocketed from 73rd in September 2023, showcasing her rapid ascent as a key Proteas batter.

Pakistan's Sidra Amin also impressed, climbing 10 spots to 13th with a career-high 636 points after scores of 121 not out, 122, and 50 not out against South Africa. She sits just 19 points shy of the top 10. Further down, Australia's Georgia Voll jumped 28 places to 61st, while Pakistan's Natalia Pervaiz gained 54 spots to enter the top 100 with a half-century in the second ODI. These shifts highlight the depth and competitiveness in women's cricket, particularly in high-stakes bilateral series preparing teams for the global tournament.

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On the bowling front, Deepti's two two-wicket hauls against Australia propelled her to 651 points, trailing leader England's Sophie Ecclestone by 144. Ecclestone's 795 points give her an 85-point buffer over second-placed Sarah Glenn. South Africa's Ayabonga Khaka surged three spots to 15th (548) with 2/36 in Lahore despite challenging conditions, and India's Kranti Gaud continued her promising debut, rising 23 places to 39th.

In all-rounders, South Africa's Marizanne Kapp overtook Hayley Matthews for second (420 points) with a century and wickets in consecutive games, closing in on Australia's Ash Gardner at the top. Teammate Chloe Tryon impressed with a two-wicket effort in spin-friendly conditions, while Australia's Tahlia McGrath advanced nine spots to 30th (128 points) for her consistent contributions.

These rankings underscore the global talent pool as the World Cup approaches, with India aiming to leverage home advantage and stars like Mandhana and Deepti to challenge for the title.

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