After her record-breaking century, Indian opener Smriti Mandhana has climbed to a career-best rating and now sits at No. 3 in the ICC Women’s T20I batting rankings.
Mandhana’s stunning hundred in the first T20I against England has had a direct impact on her rankings. In the latest weekly update of the ICC Women’s T20I batters’ rankings released on Tuesday, she jumped one spot to No. 3, surpassing Australia’s Tahlia McGrath.
McGrath, who dropped to No. 4, now has 757 rating points. Mandhana, the stylish left-hander, has reached a personal best of 771 points — just three behind second-placed Hayley Matthews and 23 behind top-ranked Beth Mooney.
With four more matches remaining in the series against England, Mandhana has a strong chance of claiming the top spot. Just last month, the 28-year-old also reached No. 1 in the ODI batters’ rankings.
In the first T20I at Trent Bridge last Saturday, Mandhana scored a blistering 112 off 62 balls, including 15 fours and 3 sixes — her first century in T20 internationals. With this, she became the first Indian and the fifth woman in the world to score centuries in all three formats of international cricket.
She also set a new record for the highest individual score in women’s T20Is for India. Standing in as captain in Harmanpreet Kaur’s absence, Mandhana led the team to a dominant 97-run victory, posting a total of 210.
Although England lost the match, their pacer Lauren Bell moved up two spots in the bowlers’ rankings to No. 4 after taking 3 wickets. Pakistan’s Sadia Iqbal continues to top the list.
The second T20I between England and India will take place in Bristol on Tuesday. It will be a special occasion for Mandhana — her 150th T20I appearance for India.
