Shafali Verma closes in on top spot in ICC Women’s T20I rankings

Shafali Verma’s return to peak form has been emphatically underlined by her sharp rise in the latest ICC Women’s T20I batter rankings, with the young Indian opener now closing in on the coveted top spot.

Shafali has climbed four places to sixth in the updated standings following a prolific run in the ongoing home T20I series against Sri Lanka. The 21-year-old has been in commanding touch, seamlessly carrying forward the momentum she built during the recently concluded ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup into the shortest format of the game.

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Having become only the second Indian batter after Mithali Raj to reach the No. 1 position in the T20I rankings in 2020, Shafali went through a lean phase before rediscovering her best form in recent weeks.

Her resurgence was highlighted by a match-winning performance in the World Cup final, where she struck a decisive 87 and claimed two wickets to guide India to their maiden 50-over world title.

That confidence has continued into the Sri Lanka series, with Shafali registering three half-centuries in the first four matches to emerge as the leading run-scorer. She now trails current top-ranked batter Beth Mooney of Australia by just 60 rating points.

India have also made notable gains in the batting rankings beyond Shafali’s rise. Wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh moved up seven places to joint 20th following her unbeaten 40 in the fourth T20I in Thiruvananthapuram.

The latest update brought further encouragement for India’s bowling unit as well. Pacer Renuka Singh jumped eight spots to joint sixth in the T20I bowling rankings after claiming a four-wicket haul on her return during the third match of the series.

Left-arm spinner Shree Charani also made significant progress, climbing 17 places to 52nd following her four-wicket haul across the opening four games against Sri Lanka.

At the top of the charts, Deepti Sharma continues to maintain a slender lead in the T20I bowling rankings, while West Indies all-rounder Hayley Matthews remains firmly placed at No. 1 among T20I all-rounders.