Vaishnavi Sharma makes big leap in ODI rankings after dream Zimbabwe series
Vaishnavi Sharma has been rewarded for her impressive performances against Zimbabwe with a massive jump in the latest ICC Women’s ODI rankings. The 20-year-old left-arm spinner has climbed 53 places to break into the top 100, moving to 94th in the bowling charts after a memorable series in which she claimed nine wickets in just two matches.
Vaishnavi was one of India’s standout performers as Smriti Mandhana’s side completed a 3-0 clean sweep in the three-match ODI series. The young spinner picked up four wickets in the second ODI, returning figures of 4/39 in 10 overs, before producing an even better performance in the series finale with her maiden five-wicket haul in the format.
Her figures of 5/39 in 10 overs helped India bowl Zimbabwe out for 131 in 39.5 overs in the third ODI in Vadodara. The five-wicket haul also saw Vaishnavi script a special record. At 20 years and 314 days, she became the second-youngest Indian woman to claim a five-wicket haul in ODIs and the youngest Indian bowler to achieve the feat in 10 years, since Deepti Sharma.
What makes Vaishnavi’s rise even more impressive is that she had not taken a single ODI wicket before the Zimbabwe series. Having made her debut during India’s tour of Australia earlier this year, she had played just one match in the format without making a breakthrough.
PRATIKA, SAYALI ALSO REWARDED FOR ZIMBABWE SHOW
Vaishnavi was not the only Indian to make significant progress in the latest rankings update. Pratika Rawal continued her impressive run with the bat, climbing three places to 18th in the ODI batting rankings.
The India opener enjoyed a productive series, registering scores of 100 not out, 61 and 59 not out across the three matches. Her third consecutive 50-plus score came in the final ODI, where she struck an unbeaten 59 off 56 balls to help India complete the chase.
Sayali Satghare also made gains in the bowling charts, moving up 18 places to 85th. The right-arm pacer impressed with the new ball in the final ODI, returning figures of 2/11 in six overs. She also bowled 30 dot balls, helping India restrict Zimbabwe to a modest total.
Shafali Verma was another Indian batter to benefit from the rankings update. She climbed eight places to joint 65th after smashing an unbeaten 51 off just 26 balls in the series finale.
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