Shafali Verma became the second Indian batter to obtain the top spot in Women’s T20I rankings:
Shafali Verma became the second Indian batter after Mithali Raj to claim the top position in International Cricket Council T20I rankings on Wednesday. She is just 16 years old but able to get the top rank.
In the continuing Women’s T20 World Cup, in four matches, she has scored 161 runs. Also, she surpassed the Suzie Bates of New Zealand and claims the second Indian batter to top the Women’s T20I rankings.
Concerning the bowling department, Sophie Ecclestone of England took the number 1 spot in the ICC rankings by taking eight wickets in the Women’s T20 World Cup so far.
Background of Shafali Verma:
In September 2019, Shafali Verma made her T20I debut against South Africa and broke 30- year old record of Sachin Tendulkar. This historical moment happened in last year November when she scored 73 runs in 49 balls against West Indies at St.Lucia and became the youngest Indian cricketer, who scored a half-century in international cricket.
Only at 15 years and 285 days, Shafali Verma achieved this accomplishment. At that time she was playing her fifth T20I match. Previously at 16 years and 214 days, Sachin Tendulkar made his maiden Test fifty. Because of her brilliant style to play and her talent, she is able to be named in the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup squad of India.
The heart of the matter:
With the help of the outstanding batting of Shafali, India has qualified the knockout stages of the tournament and on Thursday, India is going to face team England in the semi-finals.
South Africa and India are the only two teams who remained victorious in the group stage matches.
With 742 points, Shafali came into the World Cup and due to her aggressive batting attack, she got 19 more points and come into the top position with 761 points.
As Smriti Mandhana, the opening batter of India lost two points, now she is at the sixth position in the rankings.
Apart from batters, three Indian bowlers also have got positions in the top 10. Deepti Sharma acquired the fifth position when Radha Yadav, as well as Poonam Yadav, gained the seventh and eighth positions respectively.
