India captain Mithali Raj on Tuesday returned to the top five of the ICC Women's ODI Player Rankings after top-scoring for India with 72 in the opening ODI against England in Bristol.
Raj, 38, completed 22 years in international cricket, having made her ODI debut in style in 1999, scoring a century in her first ODI against Ireland.
Mithali scored 72 runs in the first ODI of the three-match series against England in Bristol, helping India reach 201/8 from 27/2. Unfortunately, the total proved to be inadequate as England’s Nat Sciver and Tammy Beaumont hit half-centuries to help the hosts win by 8 wickets.
Mithali, who had led India to the final of the last World Cup played at Lord's in 2017, has gained three slots to reach the fifth position after the Bristol knock. The formerly top-ranked batter returns to the top five for the first time since October 2019.
Hard-hitting opener Shafali Verma, the top-ranked T20I batter, has entered the ODI rankings in 120th place after scoring a 14-ball 15 on debut.
On the other hand, England opener Tammy Beaumont solidified her position at no.1 thanks to her Player of the Match effort, gaining 26 rating points to reach 791 after her unbeaten 87 while Natalie Sciver's 74 not out sees her inch up from ninth to the eighth position.
In the bowlers’ list, England’s Anya Shrubsole moved up 3 spots to eighth after grabbing two wickets in the match while left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone has gained four slots to reach 10th position with a haul of 3/40.
(ANI inputs)
