On July 8, 2025, India’s star spinner Deepti Sharma got super close to becoming the world’s No. 1 T20I bowler! The 27-year-old moved up one spot to No. 2 in the ICC Women’s T20I bowler rankings, now just eight points behind Pakistan’s Sadia Iqbal, who’s in first place. Deepti jumped ahead of Australia’s Annabel Sutherland thanks to her awesome bowling in the ongoing five-match T20I series against England. In the third match at The Oval on July 4, she took three wickets for 27 runs, helping India fight hard in a game they lost by just five runs. She’s taken six wickets in the first three matches, making her a key player for India.
Wow, Deepti’s so close to being No. 1! I’m so excited to see her shine in this series!
Deepti’s Amazing Journey
Deepti, an off-spinner who bowls tricky right-arm spin, has been in the top 10 T20I bowlers for over six years but has never reached No. 1. Now, with two matches left in the England series (on July 9 and 11, 2025), she’s super close to grabbing that top spot! She’s also ranked No. 3 in the T20I all-rounder rankings because she’s great at batting and fielding too. Deepti’s been a star since her international debut in 2014 against South Africa, and she’s known for her smart bowling and staying calm under pressure. Her six wickets so far in this series show why she’s one of India’s best.
Deepti’s been awesome for so long! I love how she’s getting closer to being the world’s best bowler.
India’s Bowling Team Rocks
India’s bowlers are doing great in this series, which India leads 2-1 after three matches. Another star, fast bowler Arundhati Reddy, jumped 11 spots to No. 43 in the T20I bowler rankings after taking three wickets for 32 runs in the third match at The Oval. Young spinner Shree Charani, who’s only 20, also impressed, taking six wickets in her first two T20I matches, including four in her debut game. Deepti praised Charani, saying, “It’s not easy to do so well on debut in England, but she bowled in the right spots.” India’s bowlers are keeping England’s batters on their toes!
India’s bowlers are killing it! Arundhati and Charani are so cool, and Deepti’s leading the way!
England’s Players Step Up Too
England’s bowlers also made big moves in the rankings after their close win in the third T20I. Fast bowler Issy Wong climbed three spots to tie for No. 57, and Lauren Filer zoomed up 21 places to No. 68. Lauren Bell stayed strong at No. 4 in the bowler rankings, helping England defend 171 runs to beat India by five runs. For batters, England’s openers Danni Wyatt-Hodge (66 runs) and Sophia Dunkley (75 runs) had a huge 137-run partnership in the third match, pushing them to No. 14 (up three spots) and No. 26 (up four spots) in the T20I batter rankings. Sophie Ecclestone, England’s top spinner, also jumped three spots to No. 8 in the all-rounder rankings after scoring a career-best 35 runs in the second match in Bristol.
England’s fighting back hard! Those big batting and bowling moves make this series so exciting.
The Series So Far
India’s women’s team is playing a five-match T20I series in England, starting June 28, 2025, and they’re aiming for their first-ever T20I series win on English soil. They won the first two matches in a big way, thanks to Smriti Mandhana’s century (112 runs) in the first game and strong bowling from Deepti, Arundhati, and Charani. But England bounced back in the third match on July 4, winning 171-9 to India’s 166-5. Deepti (3/27) and Arundhati (3/32) took three wickets each, but India fell just one boundary short of winning. Deepti said, “We’re taking it one game at a time and sticking to our plans.” With the 2026 T20 World Cup in England, this series is great practice for India.
This series is so close! I’m cheering for India to win, but England’s making it tough!
Other Indian Stars Shine
India’s batters are climbing the rankings too! Jemimah Rodrigues moved up to No. 12 in the T20I batter rankings after scoring a fifty in the second match in Bristol. Smriti Mandhana, who smashed a century in the first game, is a key player, and Shafali Verma’s 47 runs in the third match helped India’s chase. The team’s been preparing hard, with a 25-day training camp in Bengaluru and eight days in England before the series. Deepti said the camp helped them get used to England’s conditions, which is why they’re doing so well. India’s squad, led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, is packed with talent like Richa Ghosh, Yastika Bhatia, and Harleen Deol.
Jemimah and Smriti are rocking it! It’s so cool to see India’s batters and bowlers both doing great.
Why This Is a Big Deal
Deepti Sharma’s rise to No. 2 in the T20I bowler rankings is huge because she’s so close to being the world’s best! Her awesome bowling, like her 3/27 in the third match, shows she’s a game-changer. India’s 2-1 lead in the series is a big moment, as they’ve never won a T20I series in England before. With the 2026 T20 World Cup coming up in England, these games are super important for learning the conditions. Plus, players like Arundhati Reddy and Jemimah Rodrigues moving up the rankings show India’s team is getting stronger. Deepti’s focus on “one game at a time” could lead India to a historic win and maybe even get her that No. 1 spot!
This is so thrilling! Deepti’s almost the best in the world, and India’s team is on fire. What do you think about Deepti’s big moment? Tell me