By Victoria Hamilton 
India’s Smriti Mandhana and England’s Lauren Bell have emerged as the headline movers in the latest ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings, riding high on the back of stellar performances in the opening T20I between India and England at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.
Mandhana, leading the Indian side in the absence of Harmanpreet Kaur, produced one of the most devastating T20I innings in recent memory. Her blistering 112 off 62 balls, laced with clean hitting and effortless timing, propelled India to a mammoth total and an emphatic 97-run win—England’s biggest defeat in T20I history.
That innings has not only set the tone for the five-match series but also earned Mandhana a career-best third place in the T20I Batting Rankings, reaching 771 rating points, the highest of her career. Her opening partner, Shafali Verma, moved up one place to 13th, while Harleen Deol’s aggressive 43 off 23 balls sees her re-enter the rankings at 86th.
In a match largely dominated by India, England’s shining light was fast bowler Lauren Bell, who continued her rise as one of the most promising quicks in the women’s game. Bell took 3 wickets, climbing two places to fourth in the bowling charts—her highest position to date. Her sharp swing and control offer England a vital weapon as they look to bounce back in the remaining fixtures.
Adding further positives for India, debutant Shree Charani, the left-arm spinner, made an immediate impact with four wickets, entering the ICC rankings at 450th—a debut to remember.
On the English side, captain Nat Sciver-Brunt played a lone hand with the bat, scoring a fluent 66 off 42 balls, which saw her gain 20 rating points. She retains ninth place but now holds a career-best 663 rating points, reflecting her consistent contribution across formats.
As the series heads into the second T20I, fans can expect more high-quality cricket with both teams packed with rising stars and seasoned campaigners.
The updated rankings underscore the shifting dynamics in women’s T20I cricket, with players like Mandhana and Bell setting new benchmarks and shaping the future of the format.
Himadullah Sohoo 
Manvindar Singh