India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana climbed to the top spot in ICC ODI batting rankings for the first time since 2019 in the latest update on Tuesday.
The next two Indian batters in the list after her are Jemimah Rodrigues and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who are placed 14th and 15th respectively.
The 28-year-old Indian has a total of 727 rating points followed by England captain Natalie Sciver-Brunt at 719. Wolvaardt is now third with 719 points after the South Africa skipper lost 19 rating points.
While Smriti has been inside the top 10 on the list for ODI batters in recent times, the southpaw hasn’t been No. 1 for more than six years now, a drought which comes to an end.
The India opener has been in excellent touch of late and scored a superb century during the final of India’s recent tri-series against Sri Lanka and South Africa in Colombo. It was her 11th ODI century of her career and contributed to the left-hander improving her rating past Wolvaardt, who managed scores of 27 and 28 in South Africa’s recent ODI matches against the West Indies.
Smriti is also ranked fourth in the list of batters in T20Is. She will now tour England with the Indian side for a series including five T20Is and three ODIs. The first match is on June 28.
