MUMBAI: On the back of her scintillating run in the ongoing 2020 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, 16-year-old India opener Shafali Verma climbed 19 spots to top the ICC Women’s T20 batting ranks. Shafali has bagged the top spot despite playing only 18 matches in her fledgling career.
With this commendable achievement, Shafali becomes only the second batswoman after Mithali Raj to top the Women’s T20I batting rankings. With 761 points, Shafali replaces New Zealand’s veteran batter Suzie Bates who dropped one spot to the No 2 position.
Shafali has been in top form in the ongoing 2020 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. She has topped the strike rate charts with a rating of a whopping 161.0. With 161 runs in her kitty, including knocks of 47 and 46 against Sri Lanka and New Zealand respectively, the Rohtak batter is third in the run-getters list.
The India vs England clash will see a direct face-off between Shafali and top-ranked England spinner Sophie Ecclestone. Ecclestone, who pocketed eight wickets in four matches at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, is the first England bowler to be No 1 since Anya Shrubsole in April 2016 and the first England spinner at the top since Danni Hazell in August 2015.
Watch Shafali Verma and Team India take on England in the semi-final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on 5th March LIVE and exclusively on the Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 2 HD, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 HD Hindi, Star Sports Tamil, Star Sports Telugu Star Sports Kannada and Hotstar at 9.30 AM IST.
