Queen Returns: Mandhana’s Bat Does the Talking on World Stage

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Smriti Mandhana has reclaimed her crown as the world’s No. 1 ODI batter, marking a triumphant return to the top of the ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings after more than six years. The 28yearold Indian vicecaptain now leads the chart with 727 rating points, edging past England’s Nat SciverBrunt and South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt, both tied at 719.

Key Highlights:

Mandhana’s rise follows a stellar century in the triseries final against Sri Lanka and South Africa in Colombo—her 11th ODI ton.
She amassed 264 runs across five matches in the series, averaging over 52 with a strike rate above 90.
South Africa’s Wolvaardt slipped to third after modest scores of 27 and 28 against the West Indies, losing 19 rating points.
Mandhana becomes the first Indian woman since 2019 to top the ODI batting charts, ending a sixyear drought.
She is also ranked No. 4 in T20Is, underscoring her allformat consistency.
Other Indian batters in the top 20 include Jemimah Rodrigues (14th) and Harmanpreet Kaur (15th).

Outlook:

With the ICC Women’s World Cup on the horizon and India set to tour England later this month, Mandhana’s form couldn’t be better timed. Her resurgence not only boosts India’s batting firepower but also reaffirms her status as a global icon in women’s cricket.

Sources: The Hans India, ESPN India, Economic Times