ICC Women's T20I Rankings: Smriti Mandhana Rises To Third Position

After smashing a blistering half-century against Pakistan in the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, India opener Smriti Mandhana rose one spot up to the third place in the latest ICC Women's T20I Player Rankings. She followed up a knock of 24 against Australia with an unbeaten 63 off 42 balls with eight fours and three sixes, and overtook New Zealand's Sophie Devine and reached within two rating points of Australia's Beth Mooney. Meg Lanning continues to lead the rankings after regaining the top spot last week.

"Mandhana, a formerly top-ranked batter in ODIs, has been ranked third in T20Is in the past too, reaching that position for the first time in 2019 and having last held third position in October last year," stated an official ICC media release.

New Zealand's Suzie Bates has gained two slots to reach sixth position after smashing a superb 91 not out off 64 balls against South Africa while Tahlia McGrath (up one place to 12th), India captain Harmanpreet Kaur (up four places to 14th), Pakistan's Nida Dar (up three places to 40th) and South Africa's Chloe Tryon (up five places to 47th) have also made notable progress among batters.

Australia all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner has moved up in all three lists after shining with the bat against India and with the ball against Barbados, who are representing the West Indies in the eight-team competition.  Gardner's knock of 52 not out in the opening match has lifted her five places to 11th while her haul of two for six against Barbados has taken her from 45th to 26th.  She has reached a career-best third position among all-rounders.

In the rankings for bowlers, Australia left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen, who took four for 22 against India, has moved up two slots to fourth