South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt has surged to the No.1 spot in the ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings, overtaking India’s Smriti Mandhana after a record-breaking World Cup performance.
Wolvaardt scored centuries in both the semi-final and final, amassing 571 runs—the highest ever in a single edition of the Women’s World Cup. Her dominant run earned her a career-best rating of 814. Mandhana, who held the top spot throughout the tournament, now sits close behind with 811 points.
Despite Mandhana’s slip, India saw major gains. Jemimah Rodrigues entered the top ten for the first time, thanks to her match-winning hundred against Australia. Deepti Sharma climbed to fourth among all-rounders, overtaking Annabel Sutherland, after contributing seven wickets and vital lower-order runs in the knockouts.
India’s bowling unit also showed progress. Shree Charani jumped seven places to 23rd for her role in breaking key partnerships. Meanwhile, South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp rose to second in the bowling rankings after her five-wicket haul against England, though Sophie Ecclestone of England retained the top spot.
Wolvaardt’s rise marks a shift in the global batting landscape, but India’s strong presence across batting, all-rounder, and bowling categories signals a team building depth and balance for future competitions.
