Smriti Mandhana’s Century Stuns England – Now Eyeing World No. 1 Spot
Smriti Mandhana, India’s stand-in captain, has just made cricket history with a performance that’s got everyone talking. In a match against England, she smashed a huge 112 runs off just 62 balls—her first ever T20I century—and led India to a crushing 97-run win. This wasn’t just any knock; it was full of stylish shots, with 15 fours and 3 sixes, and she reached her hundred in just 51 balls, making her the first Indian woman to score centuries in all three formats of international cricket.
Thanks to this amazing innings, Mandhana has jumped up to third place in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings, hitting a career-best rating of 771 points. She’s now only 23 points behind the world’s top-ranked batter, Beth Mooney, and with a busy schedule ahead, she’s got a real shot at becoming No. 1 in both T20Is and ODIs.
Mandhana wasn’t the only Indian player making headlines. Her opening partner, Shafali Verma, also moved up in the rankings after scoring 20 runs in the same match, landing her at 13th place. Harleen Deol, who played a quick 43-run knock, has also made her way back into the rankings at joint 86th.
Over on the England side, Lauren Bell had a great day with the ball, taking three wickets and climbing up to a career-best fourth in the T20I bowling rankings. England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt fought hard, scoring 66 runs off 42 balls, and also gained 20 rating points, keeping her at ninth place with a new personal best of 663 points.
The bowling rankings are getting really close at the top, with just 44 points separating the top 10 bowlers. Pakistan’s Sadia Iqbal is still No. 1 for now, but the competition is heating up. India’s debutant Shree Charani made a big splash too, taking four wickets and entering the rankings at 450th place.
All in all, it was a match to remember for Indian cricket fans. Smriti Mandhana’s century didn’t just win the game—it put her right up there among the world’s best, and with her form and confidence, she could soon be sitting at the very top of the rankings.