India’s young slow left‑arm orthodox bowler N Sree Charani has climbed to the very top of the ICC Women’s T20I bowling rankings, becoming the new No. 1-ranked bowler. At just 21, Charani has surpassed England’s Linsey Smith to claim the coveted spot.
Charani’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. She has been in irresistible form in the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England, picking up 10 wickets in just three matches. Her numbers are staggering, an average of 6.40 and an economy rate of 5.33, including a brilliant four‑wicket haul.
Also read: How India can still reach the Women’s T20 World Cup semis
She announced herself in style against arch‑rivals Pakistan at Edgbaston, returning figures of 3/21 in four overs at an economy of 5.25, with nine dot balls to choke the opposition. Against the Netherlands, she went one better, producing a match‑winning spell of 4/19 at 4.75 economy.
Her best, however, came in a losing cause against South Africa, where she delivered 3/24 in four overs, including a maiden and a double‑wicket over that saw her dismiss Laura Wolvaardt and Annerie Dercksen.
What makes her story even more remarkable is how quickly she has risen. Charani only made her T20I debut on June 28 last year against England at Nottingham. In less than a year, she has transformed into a highly reliable and captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s trump card in the middle overs, in the shortest format.
Meanwhile, Deepti Sharma is the only other Indian in the top 10 ICC Women’s T20I bowling rankings. Deepti has slipped three places to eighth and has 708 ratings.
England’s stand-in captain in the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup, Charlie Dean, has jumped two places to become the new No. 2 with 733 ratings. The former world No. 1 Linsey Smith has slipped to third as a result of three quiet games, which have seen her claim just three wickets.
ICC Women’s T20I bowling rankings
| Pos | Team | Player | Rating | Career Best Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | Sree Charani | 753 | 753 v South Africa at Old Trafford 2026 |
| 2 | England | Charlie Dean | 733 | 740 v Ireland at Southampton 2026 |
| 3 | England | Linsey Smith | 726 | 738 v Ireland at Southampton 2026 |
| 4 | England | Sophie Ecclestone | 722 | 802 v Australia at Edgbaston 2023 |
| 5 | Pakistan | Sadia Iqbal | 714 | 758 v Sri Lanka at Sharjah 2024 |
| 6 | South Africa | Nonkululeko Mlaba | 713 | 771 v New Zealand at Paarl 2023 |
| 7 | England | Lauren Bell | 710 | 741 v India at Bristol 2025 |
| 8 | India | Deepti Sharma | 708 | 759 v Bangladesh at Dambulla 2024 |
| 9 | Australia | Annabel Sutherland | 704 | 736 v New Zealand at Wellington 2025 |
| 10 | Pakistan | Nashra Sundhu | 687 | 717 v Bangladesh at Chittagong 2023 |
