India Debuts Anushka Sharma, Kranti Gaud as South Africa Opt to Bowl First in T20I Clash Durban, April 19 — India’s cricket team made a strategic move by introducing batting all-rounder Anushka Sharma and all-rounder Kranti Gaud into their playing XI for the second T20I against South Africa at Kingsmead. South Africa, leading the five-match series 1-0 after a commanding six-wicket victory in the opener, opted to bowl first, a decision that aligns with their tactical approach to the match. The match marked a significant milestone for opener Shafali Verma, who reached her 100th T20I appearance. Verma, the youngest debutant for India in the shortest format, now holds the third youngest record globally across men’s and women’s cricket for achieving this feat. Her continued presence in the team underscores her importance to India’s T20I strategy. India’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, confirmed that Anushka and Kranti replaced Renuka Singh Thakur and Kashvee Gautam, who were rested for the game. Anushka’s inclusion was notable, given her standout performance in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) this year. She scored 177 runs in seven matches at an average of 25.28 and a strike rate of 129.19 for Gujarat Giants. Her form continued in the Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament, where she contributed 116 runs in five innings at an average of 23.2 and a strike rate of 104.50, helping India A secure the title in Bangkok. South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt emphasized the team’s focus on refining their bowling plans and capitalizing on the pitch conditions. “The wicket should be a little slower overall. Nice to know what to chase later on.#laura_wolvaardt #harmanpreet_kaur #anushka_sharma #shafali_verma #kranti_gaud
Harmanpreet Kaur Eyes T20 World Cup Glory After ODI Triumph Indian women’s cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed confidence in her side’s readiness for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa and the 2026 T20 World Cup, following their 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup victory. Speaking from Durban ahead of the series opener, Kaur emphasized the team’s improved mindset and focus on T20 cricket, calling the South Africa series a critical preparation step for the global tournament. “We are going into the series with a lot of confidence,” she said, highlighting the team’s performance against Australia as evidence of their growing strength. Kaur acknowledged South Africa’s status as a formidable opponent, noting their consistent presence in T20 World Cup finals and reliance on all-rounders. “They have very good players and always come up when the team needs them,” she remarked, adding that facing such a team before the World Cup would boost the squad’s morale. The Indian skipper also stressed the importance of the series in refining their T20 strategies and building confidence ahead of the tournament. Despite the team’s recent struggles in the ODI format, where they were blanked 3-0 in a series against Australia and lost a one-off pink-ball Test by 10 wickets, Kaur remained focused on T20 cricket. “Our main task is the T20 World Cup,” she said, noting that the team’s discussions after the ODI and Test losses were aimed at improving future performances in longer formats. Kaur highlighted the role of 22-year-old allrounder Kashvee Gautam, who is set to replace the injured Amanjot Kaur in the T20I series. Gautam, who has played six ODIs and a Test but no T20Is, is expected to contribute both with the bat and ball.#south_africa #t20_world_cup #harmanpreet_kaur #indian_women_cricket_team #kashvee_gautam
India and South Africa Prepare for T20 World Cup 2026 with Crucial T20I Series As the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 approaches, the upcoming T20I series between India and South Africa has taken on added significance as both teams focus on fine-tuning their strategies and building momentum ahead of the global tournament. The five-match series, scheduled to begin on 17 April, serves as a critical final stretch for both sides to assess their readiness and refine their combinations. India captain Harmanpreet Kaur emphasized the importance of the series in maintaining the team’s confidence following their historic ODI World Cup victory. “After the ODI World Cup, the team is looking quite confident. Wherever we are going, we are going with full confidence,” Kaur stated. She highlighted the South Africa series as a key opportunity to prepare for the T20 World Cup, noting that the team aims to play “very good cricket” to regain confidence. Kaur also underscored the need for squad depth, ensuring all players get equal exposure before the World Cup. “These series before the T20 World Cup are very important where all the players should get equal opportunities. So when we enter the World Cup, we should feel we are ready with all the players,” she said. The series also provides a platform for India to integrate emerging talent into their T20 World Cup squad. Young all-rounder Anushka Sharma, backed by Kaur, is set to gain valuable experience against a competitive South Africa side. “She is a great talent. We wanted to bring her here to give some experience. When you do well against teams like South Africa, you always get a lot of confidence,” Kaur added. South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt acknowledged the challenge of facing a confident Indian team, particularly given their strong spin attack.#india #south_africa #laura_wolvaardt #harmanpreet_kaur #kingsmead
Smriti Mandhana holds second spot, Deepti climbs to third spot in ICC rankings India’s vice-captain Smriti Mandhana retained her second position in the ICC T20I batters’ rankings, while all-rounder Deepti Sharma moved up to third in the all-rounders’ chart. Mandhana, the highest-ranked Indian batter, maintained her 770 rating, just behind Australia’s Beth Mooney. Sharma’s rise followed a drop in Australia’s Ash Gardner’s position to fourth. India captain Harmanpreet Kaur also climbed to 14th, while Shafali Verma stayed at sixth in the batters’ list. Australian opener Georgia Voll made her debut in the top 10 of the women’s T20I batters’ rankings after scoring her first T20I century against West Indies. New Zealand’s Sophie Devine advanced two places to 18th following strong performances against South Africa. Rwanda’s Fanny Utagushimaninde, the youngest player to score a T20I century, debuted at 66th after her historic innings against Ghana. South Africa’s Annerie Dercksen jumped to 55th, joining Utagushimaninde in making notable strides. In the all-rounders’ rankings, Australia’s Ellyse Perry climbed two spots to 20th, while West Indies’ Qiana Joseph surged 14 places to 33rd. Stafanie Taylor of the Windies also improved to 48th. In bowling, South Africa’s Nonkululeko Mlaba entered the top 10, moving from 11th to ninth after taking five wickets in three matches. Australia’s Georgia Wareham rose from 16th to 12th with three wickets in two games. New Zealand’s Jess Kerr reached a career-high 15th spot after taking eight wickets in the first four matches against South Africa, including a crucial three for 16 in Wellington. Ayabonga Khaka climbed to 36th, and Kim Garth moved up to 44th.#smriti_mandhana #harmanpreet_kaur #deepti_sharma #beth_mooney #shafali_verma
Harmanpreet Kaur climbs to seventh in ODI rankings as Smriti Mandhana retains top spot India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur has risen to seventh in the latest Women’s ODI batting rankings, while her deputy Smriti Mandhana maintained her position at the summit. The update, released on Tuesday, also saw New Zealand’s Sophie Devine drop two places to ninth, allowing Kaur to move up a spot. Jemimah Rodrigues remained at 12th in the rankings. New Zealand’s Maddy Green made significant strides in the rankings following her standout performance in the final match of their ICC Women’s Championship series against Zimbabwe. The 33-year-old batter scored an unbeaten 94 in Dunedin, contributing to her team’s 200-run victory that completed a 3-0 series sweep. This innings propelled her up five places to 17th, with her career-best 610 rating points. Amelia Kerr, New Zealand’s all-rounder, also advanced in the rankings after a stellar performance in the series finale. She was named Player of the Match for her all-round effort—scoring 80 and taking 5/22—securing the Player of the Series award. Kerr moved from 21st to joint-19th, accumulating over 600 rating points across both batting and bowling categories. Other New Zealand players saw progress in the rankings. Isabelle Gaze climbed three places to 61st in batting, while seam bowlers Rosemary Mair and Bree Illing advanced seven and five spots, respectively, to 58th and 79th in bowling. In the T20I rankings, Kerr reached a career-best 694 rating points after her 78-run innings against South Africa in 44 balls.#smriti_mandhana #harmanpreet_kaur #sophie_devine #amelia_kerr #maddy_green
Smriti Mandhana retains top spot in women's ODI rankings India’s star batter Smriti Mandhana has retained the top position in the latest ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings, released on Tuesday. Her captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, also maintained her spot at eighth place. However, Jemimah Rodrigues dropped one rank to 12th after India’s 0-3 ODI series loss to Australia. New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr emerged as a standout performer, leading her team’s impressive form in the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe. Kerr, the new captain of the White Ferns, showcased her all-round capabilities with a four-wicket haul in the opening match and a seven-wicket innings in the second game, becoming only the seventh player in women’s ODI history to achieve this feat. Her stellar bowling helped her climb five places to 11th in the ICC Women’s ODI Bowling Rankings and move up one spot to fifth in the All-Rounder Rankings. Kerr’s success was mirrored by other New Zealand players. Brooke Halliday surged eight places to 11th after scoring an unbeaten 157* in the series opener, while Maddy Green climbed four spots to joint 22nd in the batting rankings. Green contributed 67 in the first match and followed it with an unbeaten 27 in the second. The ICC Women’s T20I Rankings also saw notable changes following the completion of the West Indies’ three-match home series against Sri Lanka. Hasini Perera, the left-handed opener, scored an unbeaten half-century to help Sri Lanka secure the series win, climbing 15 places to 28th in the batting rankings. Young batter Imesha Dulani moved up 17 spots to joint 72nd after an unbeaten 34 in the decider. Kavisha Dilhari, the all-rounder, improved her bowling rankings by three places to 21st and her all-rounders’ list by two spots to 11th.#new_zealand #smriti_mandhana #harmanpreet_kaur #amelia_kerr #jemimah_rodrigues
ICC Women's ODI Rankings: Smriti Mandhana Claims No. 1 Batter Spot India opener Smriti Mandhana has ascended to the top of the ICC Women’s One Day International (ODI) batting rankings following her standout performances in the recent three-match series against Australia. Mandhana now holds 790 rating points, surpassing South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt, who is ranked second with 782 points. Wolvaardt retains a chance to reclaim the top position when South Africa faces New Zealand in March and April. Australia’s Alyssa Healy, who scored a century in her last ODI, is placed fourth with 744 points, positioned between Beth Mooney (749 points) and Ashleigh Gardner (724 points). India captain Harmanpreet Kaur is ranked ninth in the batting list, while Jemimah Rodrigues is in 12th place. In the ODI bowling rankings, Australia’s Alana King has claimed the no. 1 spot with 775 rating points, ending England’s Sophie Ecclestone’s nearly four-year reign at the top. King’s rise to the top came after her stellar performance in the series against India, where she took seven wickets, including four for 33 in the third ODI, helping her team secure an 185-run victory. This marks her first time as the top-ranked bowler and her highest rating to date. Other Australian bowlers in the top eight include Gardner (third), Annabel Sutherland (fifth), Megan Schutt (seventh), and Kim Garth (eighth). Deepti Sharma is the only Indian bowler in the top 10, placed at 10th. In the ODI all-rounder rankings, Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner leads with 516 points, significantly ahead of West Indies’ Hayley Matthews, who is second with 418 points. Deepti Sharma also features in the top 10 all-rounders list, ranked fifth.#smriti_mandhana #alyssa_healy #icc_womens_odi_rankings #laura_wolvaardt #harmanpreet_kaur
