Deepti Sharma becomes No. 1 ranked T20I bowler:Achieves top spot for the first time; Jemimah Rodrigues, Arundhati Reddy make big gains

Deepti Sharma became the No 1 ranked bowler in the latest ICC rankings on 23 December. The 28-year-old achieved the top spot for the first time in her career. She gained five rating points after her performance (1/20 in four overs) in India’s first T20I against Sri Lanka on 21 December in Visakhapatnam. Deepti was named Player of the Tournament in the Women’s World Cup earlier this year. The all-rounder had taken 22 wickets and scored 215 runs in nine matches. She also took a five-wicket haul (5/39) in the final, helping India win by 52 runs. Deepti is now just one point ahead of Australia’s Annabel Sutherland. Jemimah Rodrigues, Arundhati Reddy gain in latest T20I rankings Jemimah Rodrigues was also a big gainer in the latest T20I rankings for batters. The right-hander gained five spots to rise to ninth place. Rodrigues starred in India’s first T20I against Sri Lanka with an unbeaten 44-ball 69. The other Indian batters in the top 10 are Mandhana (3rd) and Shafali Verma (10th). Arundhati Reddy rose five places to move to the 36th spot in the rankings for bowlers. Also read: Shubman Gill leading run-scorer in 2025; Virat Kohli dominates ODIs:Abhishek Sharma finishes the year with a blistering 193 strike rate Smriti Mandhana loses top spot to Laura Wolvaardt Meanwhile, Smriti Mandhana has lost the top spot for batters in women’s ODIs. Wolvaardt gained the no 1 rank after top-scoring in South Africa’s three-match ODI series against Ireland, with 255 runs, which included two back-to-back centuries (124 in the 2nd ODI and 100 in the 3rd ODI). South Africa won the series 3-0. Wolvaardt gained one place to move to the top, displacing Mandhana. Also read: Mohsin Naqvi to file complaint to ICC over India’s ‘provocative behaviour ‘: BCCI to review India’s defeat against Pakistan; U19 final controversy intensifies South Africa’s Sune Luus also rose seven spots to move to 34th place in ODI rankings. She also gained 11 spots to move to 22nd in the all-rounders’ rankings after contributions with both bat and ball against Ireland. Ireland’s Arlene Kelly also moved five places to move to 27th spot in the list of ODI bowlers. Her teammates, Gaby Lewis (up four places to 18th) and Amy Hunter (up three spots to 28th), also gained in the rankings for ODI batters.