Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma make huge gains in Women's T20I Rankings

Image Credits: ICC official website

India batwomen Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma have made significant gains in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s T20I Player Rankings, after playing stellar roles in a stunning five-match series sweep over the West Indies three months ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020.

Rodrigues has moved up three places to fourth position, while teenage sensation Verma has gained 57 slots to reach 30th position as India leapfrogged the West Indies to fourth position in the ICC Women’s T20I Team Rankings after the 5-0 victory over the former T20 World champions.

Rodrigues scored 96 runs including a knock of 50 in the fifth and final match on Wednesday whereas hard-hitting opener Verma finished as the highest run-getter and player of the series with 158 runs. 

Another India batter to advance is Veda Krishnamurthy, who scored 77 runs including a match-winning 57 in the final match to move from 61st to 49th.

In the ICC Women's T20I rankings for bowlers, there are now three Indian players in the top five as left-arm spinner Radha Yadav has moved up from fifth to second. 

Deepti Sharma, who took eight wickets in the series, has retained fourth position while Poonam Yadav is fifth. 

Off-spinner Anuja Patil (up eight places to 21st) and fast bowler Shikha Pandey (up 11 places to 43rd) too have made notable progress in the latest rankings update that also takes into account performances in Pakistan’s home series against Bangladesh which the hosts won 3-0.

For the West Indies, Shemaine Campbelle has progressed three places to 68th among batters while spinners Hayley Matthews (up nine places to 27th) and Anisa Mohammed (up two places to 45th) have advanced in the bowlers’ list.

Pakistan’s frontline batter Javeria Khan has moved into the top 20 with 111 runs against Bangladesh, which included two half-centuries, while Umaima Sohail has moved up to 64th. 

Among bowlers, Anam Amin (up 16 places to 12th) and Diana Baig (up 29 places to 63rd) are the notable gainers.

For Bangladesh, Sanjida Islam has gained 11 slots to reach 75th position among batters while Jahanara Alam has gained 22 slots and is now in 15th place.

In the team rankings, India have gained eight points to move up to 260 and fourth position while the West Indies are now fifth at 248 after losing 10 points. Thailand, who have qualified for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia, are in 11th position, four points behind Ireland.