India’s talented opener Smriti Mandhana has finally regained the No.1 ranking in the ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings, six years after her last stint at the top. The ICC made the rankings update official on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, declaring Smriti Mandhana the world No.1 batter ahead of South African captain Laura Wolvaardt.
Smriti Mandhana, World No. 1 Batter Once More After 6 Years
The classy left-hander was last at the number one position in 2019 and has been in the top 10 ever since. But it needed a remarkable spell of batting in the latest series to shoot her back to the number one position. Her elevation to the world No.1 ODI batter is a peak moment in her already storied career.
Consistent Form Seals the Deal
Mandhana’s recent run of performances has been instrumental in her surge:
Scored a century in the Tri-Series Final against Sri Lanka, which also saw South Africa.
Finished as the second-highest run-scorer in the series with 264 runs in 5 matches at over an average of 50.
Her substantial contributions at the top of the order have been a crucial factor in India’s recent ODIs success.
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Laura Wolvaardt Drops to Third in ICC Rankings
South African Laura Wolvaardt, who was No.1 before, fell down the order after a terrible run of form:
In the Tri-Series, she made 43, 10, and 33.
Then 27 and 28 against the West Indies.
No fifty-plus score in her last five ODI games, resulting in a loss of 19 rating points.
This dip has pushed her to third place, behind England’s Natalie Sciver-Brunt, who now sits second.
Current Top 5 in ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings
Smriti Mandhana
Natalie Sciver-Brunt
Laura Wolvaardt
Amy Jones
Ellyse Perry
Mandhana’s resurgence at the top also highlights the ongoing competitiveness in women’s cricket, with England and Australia players featuring prominently in the top five.
Other Notable Ranking Movements
South Africa
Tazmin Brits moved up 5 spots to 27th.
Sune Luus moved up 7 spots to 42nd.
West Indies
Shemaine Campbelle moved up 7 spots to 62nd.
Qiana Joseph moved up 12 spots to equal 67th.
All these movements show the increasing talent pool of women’s cricket from several countries.
Top 5 Women’s ODI Bowlers – ICC Rankings
Sophie Ecclestone
Ashleigh Gardner
Megan Schutt
Deepti Sharma
Kim Garth
India’s Deepti Sharma remains to hold her position within the top five bowlers, and this further enhances India’s prowess in ODIs.
Smriti Mandhana’s Return as World No.1 Is a Testament to Her Class
The return of world No.1 batter Smriti Mandhana is a moment of pride for Indian cricket and cricket fans across the globe. Her consistency, calmness, and big-match temperament have earned her rightful position at number one in the world rankings again. With additional cricket to be played in 2025, fans will be closely monitoring to know how long she will be able to hold her title.
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