Teen sensation Shafali Verma regains top spot in T2OI rankings

A fine show (47 and 23) in the first two games of the Paytm T20I series against South Africa Women has seen Shafali, 17, go past Australia’s Beth Mooney to take the No. 1 spot

Attacking India opener Shafali Verma is back at the top of the ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings after a fine show in the first two matches of the ongoing Paytm three-match series against South Africa in Lucknow.

The 17-year-old big-hitter, who had grabbed the top position for the first time after helping her side reach the knockout phase of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup last year in Australia, has leapfrogged Australia’s Beth Mooney with scores of 23 and 47.

Deepti Sharma has moved up four places to 40th and teenager Richa Ghosh has rocketed 59 places to 85th among batters while young all-rounder Harleen Deol has progressed in both lists, up 262 places to 99th among batters and up 76 places to 146th among bowlers. Left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad has advanced from 34th to 25th.

In the update to the longer format, captain Mithali Raj, a formerly top-ranked batter, has moved up one place to eighth after an unbeaten 79 while Priya Punia has moved up to five places to 53rd. Gayakwad is up eight places to 38th among bowlers.

India continue to remain fourth in the ICC ODI Women’s ODI Team Rankings.