Smriti Mandhana Returns as World's Best ODI Batter - Spinmatch

Indian cricket fans couldn't be happier right now. Smriti Mandhana just grabbed the number one spot in the ICC Women's ODI rankings after waiting six long years. Last time she was at the top was back in November 2019, and honestly, it felt like forever for those of us following her journey through Spinmatch cricket updates.

How She Got There

Right now, Mandhana sits pretty with 727 rating points. She's pushed South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt down to second place, where she's tied with England's Natalie Sciver-Brunt at 719 points each.

Here's what happened - Wolvaardt had a rough time against the West Indies recently. She managed just 27 runs in one game and 28 in another, which cost her 19 rating points. That was exactly the opening Mandhana needed.

Mandhana scored a century in the tri-series finale in Colombo against Sri Lanka and South Africa. It was her 11th century in the ODI form making her a part of the women century holders club.

The Numbers Don't Lie

If you’ve been following up with the women’s cricket live lately you would have witnessed how fierey her performance has been. She has scored 1260 runs in 21 matches with an average of 60 so far. That's six centuries and five half-centuries - talk about consistency!

Just last year, she scored 747 runs in only 13 innings. That's her best year ever with the bat. No wonder she won the ICC Women's ODI Cricketer of the Year award. She totally earned it.

With 4,473 ODI runs now, she's sitting 10th on the all-time list. Not bad for someone who's still got plenty of cricket left in her!

Big Deal for Indian Cricket

Mandhana's the only Indian in the top 10 right now. Jemimah Rodrigues is at 15th and captain Harmanpreet Kaur is at 16th. Mandhana has become the face of Indian women’s cricket and an inspo for millions. She is a ray of hope that hard work never fails.

It's Getting Competitive Out There

The gap between the top three is just eight points. That means one bad series can drop you down, and one good performance can shoot you up. Women cricket World Cup preparations are going to be intense with this kind of competition.

Wolvaardt hasn't scored a century since June 2024, which explains her recent dip. But she's too good a player to stay down for long. Same with Sciver-Brunt - she's always dangerous and could easily climb back to number one.

What's Next for Mandhana

Her first real test as the top dog comes when India heads to England. Five T20Is and three ODI’s are about to start from June 28. And the whole country will be eager to see how she handles the pressure. Her technique is solid, she's got experience playing in England, and she knows how to score runs under pressure. Teams will definitely plan extra hard to get her out now that she's number one.

The Indian women's cricket team will also feel the pressure. When you've got the world's best batter, people expect you to win more games. But that pressure can work both ways - it might just push the whole team to play better.

Other Movers and Shakers

It wasn't just about Mandhana in the latest rankings. West Indies spinner Afy Fletcher finally cracked the top 20 after 17 years of international cricket. She's at 19th now after taking four wickets against South Africa. Good for her!

Sophie Ecclestone is a top bowler while Ash Gardner is a leading all rounder. South Africa's Tazmin Brits jumped five spots to 27th, and Sune Luus rose seven places to 42nd.

Why This Matters

As women’s cricket is gaining attention from all over the world , Spinmatch cricket updates help keep everyone connected to all the action in women's cricket live coverage.

The rankings being so close shows how good women cricket has become. It's not like the old days when one or two players dominated everything. Now, any team can beat any other team on its day. That makes upcoming tournaments way more exciting.

What Makes Her Special

Mandhana bats left-handed, which gives her an edge against most bowlers who are right-arm. Her recent strike rate of 90.41 shows she can score fast without throwing her wicket away. That balance is what separates good players from great ones.

In that tri-series, she scored 264 runs at an average of 52.80. Those are serious numbers when the pressure's on. She doesn't just get runs - she gets them when her team needs them most.

Looking Forward

At 28, Mandhana's got years of good cricket ahead. She knows what it takes to be number one because she's been there before. The experience will help her handle whatever comes next.

For those following Spinmatch women cricket updates, the next few months look exciting. The upcoming England series will reveal if Mandhana can hold her top spot or if changes are ahead. Women's cricket is growing fast, and stars like Mandhana are leading the charge. Her journey proves what hard work and talent can achieve, inspiring more young girls to take up the sport.

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