India’s record eighth Women’s Asia Cup title has produced another landmark moment, with left-arm spinner Shree Charani rewriting the country’s record books in the latest ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings. Charani has reached a career-best 804 rating points, becoming the first Indian to cross the 800-point mark in the rankings.
The milestone came after a decisive performance in the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka. Charani claimed 4/20 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium as India secured a 72-run victory and extended its record in the continental tournament. She finished the competition with 12 wickets, making her one of the key contributors to India’s title-winning campaign.
Charani’s 804 points have also taken her past the previous Indian benchmark of 780 points, achieved by former captain Mithali Raj in the batting rankings in 2011. The achievement means Charani now holds the highest ICC T20I rating ever recorded by an Indian player, across both batting and bowling categories.
There is an even bigger record within reach. Australia’s Megan Schutt holds the highest-ever rating achieved by a women’s T20I bowler, with 806 points in November 2018. Charani is therefore just two points away from matching the all-time benchmark. England’s Sophie Ecclestone has also previously crossed the 800-point mark, reaching 802.
India’s dominance is also reflected elsewhere in the bowling rankings. Deepti Sharma has moved into second place, while several other Indian bowlers have made significant gains following the Asia Cup campaign.
Charani’s rise is therefore more than an individual rankings achievement. It reflects the growing depth of India’s women’s bowling attack and the impact of a tournament in which India combined spin, pace and all-round contributions to win the title.
With the Asian Games ahead, Charani now has an opportunity to challenge a record that once appeared beyond reach. Two more ranking points could turn an Indian milestone into a world record.
