Mandhana solidifies No. 1 status with career-best rating in women's ODI batting rankings
Dubai (PTI): Star India opener Smriti Mandhana on Tuesday strengthened her status as the No.1 batter in women’s ODI cricket after achieving a career-best rating on the back of an outstanding home World Cup campaign.
The 29-year-old left-handed batter scored 109 against New Zealand and 34 not out against Bangladesh in her last two matches and moved to a rating of 828, almost 100 points clear of Australia's Ash Gardner in second (731), who jumped six spots after her unbeaten century against England.
It continues a dream run for Mandhana, who was named ICC Women's Player of the Month for September 2025 for her performances in the ODI series against Australia before the World Cup.
South African captain Laura Wolvaardt also moved into the top three with a jump of two spots, courtesy her knocks of 90 and 31.
England’s Amy Jones, meanwhile, entered the top 10 with a four-spot climb to ninth (656), while Annabel Sutherland enjoyed the biggest jump of those in the top 40, moving 16 spots to 16th (613).
Another India batter, Pratika Rawal, who will miss the remainder of the World Cup with injury, moved into the top 30 (27th) with a rating of 564.
Spin has played a big part at the tournament and the rankings jumps reflect the work of several to shine.
England's Sophie Ecclestone remains well clear atop the women’s ODI bowling rankings (747), though she has a new rival chasing her in Australian leg-spinner Alana King, who took a seven-wicket haul against South Africa.
King moved five places with a career-high rating of 698, edging her teammate Gardner, who dropped one position to third (689).
Nashra Sandhu of Pakistan was tied for 10th with Proteas left-arm orthodox spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba (610), while fast bowlers Marizanne Kapp and Sutherland also made one-spot hops to fourth and seventh respectively.
Another exponent of left-arm orthodox, Linsey Smith was the biggest mover, up 24 spots to 36th (444).
Gardner’s exploits have cemented her No. 1 position in the all-rounder stakes (rating 503), though has a new No. 2 behind her in Kapp, who overtook West Indies’ Hayley Matthews with a rating of 422.
Sutherland’s performances, meanwhile, took her to fourth, with teammate King into the top 10 with a move of three spots to 262.
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NEET student hangs self in Rajasthan's Sikar
Jaipur (PTI): A student preparing for the NEET examination allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a rented room in Rajasthan's Sikar on Friday, police said.
According to the police, the student allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister's scarf while one sister was attending coaching classes and the other was in the bathroom.
He had appeared in the NEET UG exam 2026, which was cancelled due to paper leak, they said.
Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar said that the deceased, identified as Pradeep Meghwal, was a resident of Kanika ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu's Gudha Gaudji area.
He had been living in a rented room in Sikar's Jaldhari Nagar area with his two sisters while preparing for NEET over the last three years.
His elder sister later found him hanging and informed the landlord and police after bringing him down, officials said.
The SHO said the body was kept at SK Hospital mortuary, and a postmortem had not been conducted.
The student's father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police that Pradeep's NEET examination had gone well and the family was expecting him to score around 650 marks.
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot expressed grief over the incident and linked it to anxiety among students after reports of irregularities and paper leaks in NEET 2026.
Pilot said repeated paper leak incidents and cancellation of examinations were affecting students' mental health and demanded a time-bound investigation and strict action against those responsible.
