Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma Named in ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year 2024

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday, announced its Women’s ODI Team of the year 2024, honouring the talent, skill and consistency of these star cricketers. This team led by the South African batter, Laura Wolvaardt, also features India’s Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma who have earned a place in this eleven through their exceptional performances throughout the year.

Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma Named in ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year 2024
Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma Named in ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year 2024

Smriti Mandhana:

The left-handed opener had a stellar year with the bat. With 747 runs in 13 matches, she was second to none as she finished as the highest run-scorer in women’s ODIs for the year. She hit a total of record four ODI centuries, including an overseas century at the WACA Cricket Ground. Though, Mandhana began her year with a run-a-ball 29 against Australia, she made a comeback to remember, in the home series against South Africa, six months later. She smashed two back-to-back centuries against the Proteas in the first two matches. In the third match, she missed her ton by a small margin, falling for 90s. However, she won the Player of the Series for her phenomenal tally of 343 runs in the series.

Next in line were New Zealand. Despite having a bad start in first two matches, including a duck, Smriti hit her third ton of the year in the series decider, winning the Player of the Match. This hundred, propelled her into an elite group, becoming the only Indian to feature in the top ten list of most centuries in Women’s ODI Cricket.

During the away series in Australia, Smriti ended on a high note scoring a brilliant 105, though India lost the match and the series. The last series of the year against West-Indies, marked two half centuries for Smriti, though she missed out on a hundred by 9 runs.

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Smriti’s dream run in the year 2024 truly culminated in a year to remember, as she earned a prestigious inclusion in the ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year.

Deepti Sharma:

India’s right-arm off break and left-handed batter, Sharma showcased her versatile all-round capabilities as she claimed 24 wickets and scored 186 runs in 13 matches. She was off to a promising start, claiming one wicket and remaining unbeaten on 25 in the first match of the year against Australia.

Building on this start, she continued to impress, with her outstanding performance in the home series with South Africa. She scalped two wickets in each match and chipped in a crucial 37 runs in the first match, her only batting outing of the series.

However, Deepti’s most memorable performance of the year came in the series against New Zealand in October. She set the tone for the series with a solid 41 run knock and figures of 1/41 in the opening game. In the second match, she claimed 2/30, but couldn’t prevent a loss. She definitely saved her best for the last, as in the final ODI, Deepti was the standout bowler taking 3/39 to help seal the series. Her brilliant performance (6 wickets and 56 runs) resulted in her winning the Player of the Series.

The Australia series proved to be a modest one for Deepti Sharma, as she scored only 11 runs and claimed 2 wickets. But she closed the year with a flourish as she picked up 9 wickets and scored 57 runs in the series against West-Indies. In the final match of the series, she won the Player of the Match for her excellent performance. She not only clinched a six-wicket haul but also scored an unbeaten 39 to guide India to victory.

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The year 2024, made Deepti a vital cog in India’s ODI Team. Her consistent all-round performances and her match winning capabilities led to her gaining a spot in the ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year.

The team also features other cricketing greats, including England’s Sophie Ecclestone, Kate Cross and Amy Jones, Australia’s Annabel Sutherland, and Ashleigh Gardner, South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp and Laura Wolvaardt, Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu and West Indies’ Hayley Mathews.

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