We are just a few weeks away from the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, and the latest ICC Women’s ODI Rankings have served up more spice than a roadside chaat vendor. Batters are piling on the runs, all-rounders are flexing and showcasing their ability to perform, while bowlers are simply trying to survive in batting-friendly conditions. This is arguably a good precursor to the main course for spectators – these rankings aren’t just numbers, but a glimpse of who might shine at the World Cup.
Batting Boom: Brits, Amin, and Mandhana on Fire
If you’re after consistency mixed with fireworks, Tazmin Brits is your girl. She’s been rewriting her career path faster than most of us have rewritten our New Year’s resolutions. After back-to-back centuries in Lahore, Tazmin Brits is now firmly in the top six batting ranking, which is quite the journey from sitting at No. 73, just two years ago. Sidra Amin from Pakistan isn’t far behind either. She’s scores of 121, 122, and 50 are telling the world that “consistency” is certainly not a catch-phrase, it’s a brand. Oh, then there is Smriti Mandhana, who is not only sitting comfortably at the No. 1 position but seems to be building a wall around her spot. She has set a new career-best rating of 818 after twin tons against Australia, and the rest of the group seems to be far behind.
The All-Rounder Arms Race
If the batters are hogging the headlines, then the all-rounders are silently plotting to take over the world. South Africa’s heartbeat, Marizanne Kapp, climbed to second on the all-rounder rankings after scoring a century and nabbed a 4-29 in a tightly contested match. Now she is right on Ash Gardner’s tail, precursor to a tantalizing rivalry for the World Cup stage. Chloe Tryon somehow has been a handy customer in spin-friendly conditions, and Tahlia McGrath now at 30th underscore how terrifyingly deep the Australians reach. If you’re an all-rounder nerd like me, the all-rounder drama is pure gold because who wouldn’t want a player who can absolutely change the game with bat and/or ball?
Bowlers Fighting the Tide
While batters have been having their cake and eating it, bowlers have been left fighting scraps for every tiny morsel of recognition. Deepti Sharma’s two-wicket hauls against Australia gained her a bump up to No. 5, demonstrating her ability to perform well in big moments. Ayabonga Khaka’s climb to 15th shows her doggedness even when bowling on flat tracks, whilst young gun Kranti Gaud’s leap into the top 40 just reminds us that new talent can shake him up in a hurry. And we can’t forget Sophie Ecclestone – the king of spin by a long distance with a massive 85-point gap at the top. Leading into CWC25, bowlers are under pressure, but that also means we will see some crafty spells that twist matches on a dime.
The rankings shake-up leading into CWC25 is more than an update on the statistical leaders—it’s a story still being written. There’s Brits’ emergence, Mandhana’s magic, Kapp’s all-around skills, and Ecclestone’s stranglehold already making CWC25 feel so full of stories to consume. The question is, which of these in-form players maintain their ground, and who will play the warm-up and catch everyone off guard? Either way, a wild ride is coming, so hang on—CWC25 will be a thrill.
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