Women’s T20 World Cup: Richa Ghosh, Renuka Thakur achieve career-best rankings in T20Is

Richa Ghosh, India’s wicketkeeper-batter, and Renuka Thakur, India’s fast bowler, both attained career-high T20I rankings in the latest ICC Women’s T20I rankings released on Wednesday.

Richa has broken into the top 20 of the Women’s T20I batter rankings for the first time following her strong performances in the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 in South Africa. Her unbroken innings of 41 against the West Indies and 47 against England in the last week had propelled her to 20th place.

Richa also joined vice-captain Smriti Mandhana (third), Shafali Verma (10th), Jemimah Rodrigues (12th), and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (13th) in the top 20 list, which is led by Australia’s fast-bowling all-rounder Tahlia McGrath.

Renuka’s amazing five-for-15 total against England has propelled her to a career-high fifth position in the bowling rankings.

Lea Tahuhu, a fast bowler from New Zealand, has breached the 700-rating point barrier for the first time after taking eight wickets in four matches. Her teammate, all-rounder Amelia Kerr, scored a match-winning 66 against Sri Lanka in Paarl, propelling her to a career-high 16th rank while also climbing three places to 13th among bowlers.

Muneeba Ali of Pakistan has advanced 10 places to a career-high 64th position after becoming the country’s first woman to achieve a T20I century. Australia captain Meg Lanning has moved up one spot to fourth after scoring 48 not out against Bangladesh, while former New Zealand captain Suzie Bates has moved up two spots to sixth after scoring 81 not out against Bangladesh and 56 against Sri Lanka.

Tazmin Brits of South Africa (up six places to 21st), Amy Jones of England (up two places to 26th), Orla Prendergast of Ireland (up eight places to 38th), and Harshitha Samarawickrama of Sri Lanka (up four places to 39th) are among those who have moved up the batting rankings. Nida Dar, a Pakistan all-rounder, has risen two places to 37th and has risen seven places to 16th among bowlers.

Darcie Brown, a 19-year-old fast bowler from Australia, has broken into the top ten for the first time with her economical bowling, while West Indies captain Hayley Matthews has also broken into the top ten after taking two for 14 against Pakistan.

Spinners Sadia Iqbal of Pakistan (up 13 places to 20th), Karishma Ramharack of the West Indies (up 44 places to 28th), and Eden Carson of New Zealand have also advanced (up 14 places to 37th). Matthews and Amelia Kerr move up a notch each to grab second and joint-third place on the all-rounders list, while Nida Dar of Pakistan is fifth after moving up two places.

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