Shafali Verma Advances in ICC Women's T20I Rankings After Strong Series

Shafali Verma, the young Indian batter, has made significant strides in the latest ICC Women's T20 International rankings, moving up to sixth position following a series of compelling performances against Sri Lanka. This advancement marks a notable resurgence for the 21-year-old, who is now just 60 rating points behind the top-ranked batter, Beth Mooney of Australia.

During the recent T20I series, Shafali exhibited her prowess with the bat, scoring a total of three half-centuries and emerging as the leading run-scorer. Her performance included a standout innings of 69 not out off just 34 balls in the second match, followed by scores of 79 and 79 again in the subsequent matches, showcasing her ability to anchor the innings and accelerate when necessary.

In 2020, Shafali Verma briefly held the top position in the T20I rankings, becoming just the second Indian player to achieve this milestone after Mithali Raj. However, she faced challenges in maintaining that form until her recent resurgence, which has been attributed to her impressive contributions in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup Final, where she scored 87 runs and took two wickets, helping India secure their first 50-over World Cup title.

Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana also found her rhythm, scoring an impressive 80 runs in the fourth T20I, maintaining her third position in the rankings. However, Jemimah Rodrigues experienced a slight decline, dropping to tenth place.

The bowling department saw notable advancements as well, particularly for Renuka Singh, who climbed eight places to joint sixth after taking four wickets for 21 runs in the third match of the series. Her outstanding performance was crucial in India's victory, allowing them to clinch the series against Sri Lanka. Shree Charani, another young talent, improved her position significantly, moving up 17 places to 52nd overall.

Deepti Sharma continues to hold her status as the number one T20I bowler globally, reflecting her consistent performance and reliability in the Indian bowling attack. Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan players also made gains in the rankings, with Hasini Perera moving up 114 places to 71st following steady contributions in the series.

As the Indian team prepares for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup in 2026, which will be hosted in England and Wales, these rankings provide a clear indication of the team's depth and potential as they aim for further success on the international stage.