Shree Charani sets world record with highest rating in T20 bowling

Shree Charani, India’s left-arm spinner, has set a new world record in women’s T20 cricket. She has left Australia’s pacer Megan Schutt behind to take possession of the highest rating points among T20 bowlers.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released the updated weekly rankings of women cricketers on Tuesday. While retaining the top position, Charani’s rating has increased by 18 points. As a result, the current rating of the Indian spinner, 22, stands at 817.

Earlier, the record for the highest rating in T20 bowling belonged to Megan Schutt. The Australian pacer’s highest rating was 806. Charani has surpassed that record to set a new milestone.

Two weeks ago, Charani had entered the 800 rating points bracket in T20 as the first Indian woman cricketer. Before that, the only bowlers to touch 800 points in this format were Schutt and England’s left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone. Ecclestone’s career-best rating is 802.

Charani has also made a significant contribution to India’s gold medal win at the recent Asian Games. She took two wickets conceding only 13 runs in the final against Sri Lanka. She claimed eight wickets in three matches throughout the tournament.

In the T20 bowling rankings, Deepti Sharma of India is in second place after Charani. The all-rounder, who took three wickets in the final, has a rating of 754. Sophie Ecclestone of England is in third position with 723 points.

Smriti Mandhana of India has also advanced in the batters’ list. Playing a 79-run innings in the final against Sri Lanka, she has moved up one place to fifth in the T20 batters’ rankings. Australia’s Beth Mooney remains at the top of the list as before.

Hayley Matthews of the West Indies has retained the top position in the all-rounders’ rankings. Mandhana is at number one in the ODI batters’ list. Alana King of Australia is at the top among ODI bowlers while Ashley Gardner is at the very top in the all-rounders’ list.