Smriti Mandhana climbs to third place in ICC ODI batting rankings following South Africa match defeat - Cricket Winner

India Women’s vice-captain and standout batter, Smriti Mandhana, has surged to third place in the ICC Women’s ODI batting rankings, further enhancing her exceptional form following her recent milestone of surpassing 7000 runs.

Mandhana’s stellar batting display during India’s home ODI series against South Africa propelled her up two spots on the leaderboard, now trailing only England’s Natalie Sciver-Brunt and Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu. Following her victory in the 2024 WPL with RCB, Mandhana continued her stellar performance in national colors, delivering a commanding 117 runs off 127 balls in India’s series opener against South Africa on June 16.

Following the South Africa match, Mandhana’s tally in the ICC Women’s ODI batting rankings stands at 715 points, marking a significant rise. Despite India’s early struggle at 99/5 after choosing to bat first, the 27-year-old found an ally in Deepti Sharma (37 off 48) later in the innings.

Together, they forged an impressive partnership of 81 runs off 92 balls for the sixth wicket. This feat cements Mandhana’s position among India’s cricketing elite, as she becomes the second-highest run-scorer for the country in international cricket, trailing only former captain Mithali Raj, who boasts an impressive 10,868 runs.

Mandhana’s masterful batting display and team triumph

Mandhana’s adeptness and poise under pressure shone through as she orchestrated pivotal partnerships to steer India towards a competitive total. “We won the match, so I’m really pleased to have made a contribution. Starting the tournament on the right foot is crucial. Achieving a victory by over 100 runs is immensely satisfying. As I mentioned earlier, it was a challenge to resist the temptation of aerial shots and focus on grounded strokes. Given our extensive experience in T20 cricket, today demanded cohesive partnerships. Kudos to Deepti and Pooja for delivering on that front,” Mandhana remarked during the post-match presentation.

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Harmanpreet Kaur, the current captain and teammate, is also on the brink of a significant milestone, with a total of 6,870 runs accumulated across all formats. This achievement positions her as the third-highest run-scorer for India. Kaur’s proximity to the 7,000-run mark underscores the formidable depth of India’s batting lineup in women’s cricket.