The ICC’s latest update jolted Indian fans when Smriti Mandhana fell from the No.1 slot in the ODI batting rankings after a modest 32 in the opener and a scoreless finish in the second match.
Wolvaardt’s return to the summit was no accident; a blistering performance earlier in the series pushed her past the previous leader, and the recent wickets that fell to her spell cemented her place at the top.
The real drama erupted in the second ODI, where Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma each smashed centuries, catapulting Harmanpreet up to eighth and Deepti to 23rd. Their runs also nudged Deepti into the fourth spot among all‑rounders and eighth among bowlers, a rare double‑lift for a batter.
India’s other players weren’t left in the dust. Kranti Gaud climbed two places to 25th among bowlers, while the teenage prodigy Pratika Rawal leapt seven spots to a career‑best 21st in batting. Across the board, South African and Zimbabwean players also enjoyed movements in the rankings, but the headline act remains the fall of Mandhana and the rise of Wolvaardt.
With the series against Zimbabwe still on the calendar, India’s top order will be looking for a swift recovery. The national squad’s next test will be the third ODI, where every run and wicket could tip the balance and perhaps vault Mandhana back into the spotlight.