Smriti Mandhana’s Lead Shrinks Despite Staying No.1 in ODI Batting Rankings

India's star opener Smriti Mandhana continues to hold the No. 1 position in the latest ICC Women's ODI batting rankings, but her lead has narrowed following lacklustre starts in the ongoing ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025. The tournament, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2, features eight teams vying for the title, with matches spread across venues in Guwahati, Indore, Visakhapatnam, Navi Mumbai, and Colombo. Mandhana, who entered the event on a high after scoring back-to-back centuries in a three-match ODI series against Australia last month, has managed just 31 runs across two innings so far.

Mandhana's rating stands at 791 points, giving her a 60-point edge over England's Nat Sciver-Brunt in second place. Her recent World Cup outings—a duck against hosts Sri Lanka in the opener on September 30 and 23 against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 5—have dented her previously commanding lead. Despite the slow starts, India secured victories in both games: a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Guwahati, powered by lower-order contributions from Deepti Sharma and Amanjot Kaur, and an 88-run triumph over Pakistan in Colombo, where the bowling attack restricted the opposition to 164 after India posted 252. Australia's Beth Mooney holds the third spot with 713 points, while South Africa's Tazmin Brits (706) and Australia's Ashleigh Gardner (697) have surged into fourth and fifth positions, respectively, thanks to match-winning centuries against New Zealand.

Brits climbed two places, and Gardner leaped seven to a career high, closing the gap on the leaders with their explosive knocks in the tournament's early stages. New Zealand captain Sophie Devine also advanced seven spots to eighth, buoyed by consistent contributions with bat and ball. Pakistan's Sidra Amin equalled her career-best ranking at 10th after a gritty 81 against India in Colombo, highlighting her resilience despite three dropped catches during her stay. These shifts reflect the high-stakes intensity of the World Cup, where standout performances can rapidly reshape the global pecking order.

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In the bowling rankings, England's Sophie Ecclestone maintains her dominance at the top with 792 points, underscoring her status as the premier white-ball spinner. India's Deepti Sharma, the tournament's early standout with three wickets and a crucial 42 not out against Sri Lanka, slips one place to sixth with 640 points—the only Indian in the top 10. Sharma's all-round prowess has been vital for India's unbeaten start, but she faces stiffer tests ahead against powerhouses like Australia and England. As the World Cup progresses, with India scheduled to face South Africa next on October 10 in Indore, Mandhana will aim to rediscover her fluency to bolster both her rankings and her team's title aspirations.

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