India’s women bowlers are enjoying the kind of week most attacks only dream about. The latest ICC Women’s T20I bowling rankings, updated on Tuesday, have Shree Charani and Deepti Sharma firmly planted at the top of the world order, while young quicks Nandini Sharma and Kranti Gaur have made eye-catching leaps after India’s 2-0 lead in the home series against Zimbabwe.
It is a rankings update that reads like a report card for Indian cricket’s bowling depth. The established names kept their places, the newcomers stormed up the table, and the numbers tell the story of a unit firing on all cylinders in Raipur.
Charani stays No. 1, Deepti holds No. 2
Charani, whose control with the ball has become one of the defining sights of the year, remains the No. 1 ranked T20I bowler in the world with a rating of 811. Right behind her sits the ever-reliable Deepti Sharma on 748 points, meaning India now owns both top spots on the global bowling chart.
Both spinners kept Zimbabwe quiet across the first two matches of the series with miserly, economical spells, and their grip on the top two positions simply underlines how central spin has been to India’s T20 blueprint this season.
The big movers: Nandini and Kranti
If the top of the table was about consistency, the rest of the list was about momentum. Right-arm seamer Nandini Sharma was one of the biggest climbers of the entire update, jumping 26 places to reach 45th after a productive outing against Zimbabwe.
Nandini claimed three wickets across the first two matches in Raipur, making her one of the joint-leading wicket-takers of the series so far, and she did it while keeping the scoring rate in check. Fellow pacer Kranti Gaur also took a significant step forward, moving up nine places to 43rd on the strength of her performances in the same fixtures.
Their rise is good news beyond the rankings table. India’s spin core is world class, but genuine pace options climbing the charts gives the team a different dimension heading into the next round of international assignments.
India’s bowlers ran the show in Raipur
The backdrop to all this movement is straightforward: India have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe on home soil, and the bowlers did the heavy lifting. Zimbabwe’s batters were rarely allowed to settle, and the attack shared the spoils across the two games at Raipur.
The final match of the series now becomes a chance for India’s fringe players to push their case, and for Nandini and Kranti to keep climbing. Rankings, after all, only matter when the next opportunity arrives.
What happened elsewhere in the rankings
The update was not only about India. The first T20I of the trans-Tasman series between Australia and New Zealand produced its own set of movers. Australia’s Annabel Sutherland climbed one place to eighth among T20I bowlers, while New Zealand’s Jess Kerr jumped five spots to 17th. Bree Illing moved up six places to 23rd and Nensi Patel rose five spots to 35th.
In the batting charts, Australia narrowly won that series opener in Sydney, but it was two New Zealanders who made the eye-catching moves: Maddy Green climbed three places to 34th and Georgia Plimmer rose 13 spots to 48th. Australia’s Beth Mooney, meanwhile, retains her position as the world’s No. 1 ranked T20I batter.
On the ODI side, after Australia completed their 50-over series against Bangladesh, veteran seamer Megan Schutt moved up to fourth in the ODI bowling rankings.
FAQs
Who is the No. 1 bowler in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings?
India’s Shree Charani is the No. 1 ranked T20I bowler with a rating of 811, ahead of teammate Deepti Sharma on 748 points.
Which Indian bowlers made the biggest gains this week?
Nandini Sharma climbed 26 places to 45th and Kranti Gaur moved up nine places to 43rd after strong performances in the T20I series against Zimbabwe.
What is India’s position in the Zimbabwe series?
India have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match home T20I series against Zimbabwe, with both games played in Raipur.
Who is the top T20I batter in the world?
Australia’s Beth Mooney continues to lead the ICC Women’s T20I batting rankings as the world No. 1.
For now, India can sit back and enjoy the view from the top of the bowling charts. With the series decider still to come, there is every reason to believe the climbing will continue.
