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Deepti Sharma jumped to joint second place in the latest ICC women’s T20I bowling rankings released on January 30.
All-rounder Deepti was honoured with the BCCI award for the best women’s international cricketer of 2022-2023 last month. This marks her second win of the women's award, having previously clinched it for the 2019-20 season.
The 26-year-old played a key role in India's success, contributing significantly to their victories in the Women's Asia Cup and the Asian Games amidst a busy year of T20I fixtures. As an off-spinner, she secured 38 wickets during the award period, the fifth-highest globally and the most by a bowler from a Full Member nation, with an average of 14.81 and an economy rate of 5.71. Additionally, Deepti showcased her batting prowess, accumulating 313 runs, including two half-centuries, at an average of 28.45.
Although Deepti only participated in three ODIs and no Tests during the award period, she continued her stellar performance into the triumphant 2023-24 home season. In this period, she claimed 11 wickets at an impressive average of 10.81 and scored 165 runs at 55.00 as India emerged victorious against England and Australia in one-off Tests held in Mumbai.
In the latest ICC women's T20I bowling rankings released on January 30, Deepti's teammate Renuka Singh also climbed to 10th place.
The rise of the 26-year-old all-rounder was mainly attributed to South Africa spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba's drop from second to fifth position after securing just one wicket in two matches against Australia.
Similarly, Pakistan's Sadia Iqbal joined Deepti in the second position after moving up one spot, while England's Sarah Glenn closely followed at fourth. England's Sophie Ecclestone maintained her dominance in the T20I rankings for bowlers. As for the all-rounders' rankings, there were no changes in the top 10, with Deepti retaining her fourth position.
In the latest batting rankings, India's vice-captain Smriti Mandhana retained her fourth position, leading among Indian players. Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, and Harmanpreet Kaur also maintained their respective rankings at 13th, 16th, and 17th positions.
Australia's Beth Mooney secured the top spot in the T20I rankings for batters, surpassing her compatriot Tahlia McGrath, thanks to her exceptional performance against South Africa. Mooney displayed her form with two half-centuries in 2024, including an impressive unbeaten 72 off 57 balls, which earned her the Player of the Match award in a game against South Africa in Canberra.
McGrath currently holds the second position after scoring 24 and 23 runs in the first two matches of Australia's T20I series against South Africa. Meanwhile, Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt, following her outstanding performance in the series, maintained the third position and achieved a new career-high rating.
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