Shree Charani Becomes Number One T20I Bowler Amid T20 World Cup Heroics

Shree Charani becomes number one bowler [Source: AFP]

Shree Charani has become the new number one ranked bowler in Women’s T20I ICC bowling rankings. The cricketer has scaled the top spot on the ICC charts for the first time in her career.

Charani has been rewarded with the number one ranking following her prolific beginnings to the ongoing 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. The 21-year-old has bagged 10 wickets in just three matches of the tournament so far at an exceptional bowling average of 6.40. 

Notably, Charani made her T20I debut for Team India on June 28 last year, making her rise to the summit of the ICC Women’s T20I bowling rankings in less than a year all the more remarkable.

Shree Charani topples Linsey Smith to become number one bowler

Shree Charani gained a rung to climb to the number one spot on the ICC T20I Women’s bowling rankings. As per the updated charts, the 21-year-old Indian spinner has garnered 753 rating points to remain clear of England spinner and number two ranked Charlie Dean (733) by 20 points. 

Also Read- India Women's T20 World Cup SWOT Analysis: Can Harmanpreet's Team Seal Straight ICC Titles?

Linsey Smith lost her throne and slipped to two places to occupy number three position in the ICC rankings with 726 points. She is followed by fellow Englishwoman Sophie Ecclestone at number four, and Pakistan’s Sadia Iqbal at number five. 

Apart from Charani, fellow spin bowler Deepti Sharma is the only other Indian to feature in the top 10 ICC T20I bowling rankings. Deepti is ranked eighth on the list, having slipped three spots from her number five position despite taking a match-winning five-wicket haul against Pakistan Women last week. 

The senior Indian spinner also became the leading wicket-taker in the history of Women’s T20I cricket in the process of her Pakistan spell in Birmingham on June 14. 

Shree Charani on top of T20 World Cup 2026 charts

Shree Charani is also leading the wicket-taking charts of the ongoing 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. The young Indian spinner started off with a match-winning three-fer against arch-rivals Pakistan in Birmingham last week.

Charani followed it up with another four-fer, this time against Netherlands a couple of days later in Leeds. While the youngster also ruffled South Africa’s batting line-up in Manchester with tight figures of 3-24, Team India failed to defeat the Proteas in the high-octane game. 

Overall, she has claimed 10 wickets in just three innings of the tournament at an exceptional average of 6.40. 

India to face Bangladesh, Australia in must-win games

Shree Charani along with the rest of her Indian colleagues will now take on Bangladesh and Australia in their remaining matches of the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. 

Both matches mark must-win ones for the Indian Women’s team, following their shock defeat to South Africa in Manchester a couple of days ago.

Also Read- When Sanjiv Goenka Laughed Off Rishabh Pant Leaving LSG Before IPL 2026