Smriti Mandhana finally played a knock befitting her calibre as India defeated New Zealand by six wickets in the deciding game to seal the three-match Women's ODI series 2-1 in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
Yo Yo Honey Singh turned the DY Patil Stadium into a full-blown concert arena as the WPL opening ceremony set the perfect tone for the season opener in Navi Mumbai on Friday.
India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has been named the icon player for the Ratnagiri Jets, who will compete in the inaugural edition of the Women's Maharashtra Premier League (WMPL).
The first three matches were low-scoring affairs, but the fourth T20I was a run-fest, with both India and Sri Lanka registering their highest-ever totals in the format.
IMAGES from the WPL match played between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and UP Warriorz on Monday.
Harmanpreet Kaur, Smrit Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Shafali Verma, and Jemimah Rodrigues are poised to see an uplift of 25 to 35 per cent in brand value.
Mandhana, the best batter in the side, has failed to get going thus far on the slow wickets of the UAE where stroke making has proved to be extremely tough.
Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus shone as South Africa defeated India by eight wickets in the second women's T20I, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
'A lot of girls played here for the first time. The excitement was quite high.'
India have a mounting worry in the lack of runs so far from talismanic Smriti Mandhana, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and the energetic Jemimah Rodrigues.
As India chase history at home in Navi Mumbai, while Laura Wolvaardt's South Africa will look to script their own fairytale, by finally breaking their run of heartbreaks at ICC events.
The next two Indian batters in the list after Mandhana are Jemimah Rodrigues and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who are placed 14th and 15th respectively.
Star India all-rounder Deepti Sharma on Tuesday rose to the top of the ICC women's T20I bowling rankings for the first time in her career.
Deepti Sharma lost the top spot in the bowling rankings, as her return of one for 28 in the fifth T20I was not enough to stop Australia's Annabel Sutherland's climb to the top.
Despite being troubled by a few injuries, Mandhana is happy with the squad at her disposal.
Kolkata Knight Riders, owned by the Shah Rukh Khan family and Mehta Group, emerged as the most valuable franchise.
India won their maiden Women's World Cup title with a 52-run victory over South Africa at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday.
Paris Olympics double medallist Manu Bhaker, two-time Paralympics champion Avani Lekhara and ace wrestler Vinesh Phogat are among five athletes nominated for the BBC 'Indian Sportswoman of the Year' award.
Respect over rivalry? India-Pakistan face-off awaits
Smriti said that the clash against Pakistan always brings out a lot of passionate response from the players. The arch-rival will lock horns in Dubai on October 6.
RCB appoint Malolan Rangarajan as women's team head coach
Harmanpreet has transformed her World Cup glory into a lifelong keepsake. The India captain has etched the World Cup trophy onto her biceps- a tattoo that immortalises the defining moment of her career.
South Africa defeated India by six wickets in the opening match of the Women's T20 series, with captain Laura Wolvaardt leading the charge. India's batting lacked momentum, and their bowling attack struggled with indiscipline, allowing South Africa to comfortably chase down the target.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Mumbai Indians by three wickets in Women's Premier League match.
Stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana hailed the team's bowling and fielding as India bounced back from a "tough" phase to beat New Zealand in the first ODI of the three-match series in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
Georgia Voll capitalised on three dropped chances to smash 101 while Phoebe Litchfield struck 80 as Australia beat India by five wickets in Hobart to seal the women's ODI series 2-0 despite fifties from Harmanpreet Kaur and Pratika Rawal.
Formidable India will be eager to register a dominance-extending fourth victory on the bounce in the fourth women's T20I against Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.
Opener Smriti Mandhana's elegant century went in vain as India lost to Australia by 83 runs in the third Women's ODI to suffer a 0-3 series whitewash
India opener Shafali Verma said her no-holds-barred approach goes well with Smriti Mandhana's elegance.
Skipper Alyssa Healy led from the front with a masterful 142 as Australia pulled off a record chase of 331 to beat India by three wickets in their Women's World Cup group match on Sunday.
De Klerk said she just struck to the basics while bowling and it helped her reap rich dividends.
Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur became the first visiting batter to score three Women's ODI centuries in England.
The Capitals made a challenging 194 for five as Shafali Varma mustered a 31-ball 50 after they were asked to bat first.
Having retained the majority of their squad, MI will be the team to beat given their formidable batting, but Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals will be out to spoil their party.
The 28-year-old cricketer's ODI runs came at an average of 57.86 and an impressive strike rate of 95.15.
Smriti Mandhana is just the fourth women's player and first Indian woman to score a ton in both ODIs and Tests.
Both Mandhana and Kohli wear No. 18 jerseys and the left-handed batter said drawing comparison between the two based on that was unwarranted.
Jemimah Rodrigues scored a fifty, but India were bowled out for 198 against Australia on the first day of the day-night Test. Australian pacers Sutherland and Hamilton caused significant damage. India fought back with early wickets, leaving Australia at 96 for three at the close of play.
The franchise chose to retain only former Under-19 World Cup winner Shweta Sehrawat as part of a fresh approach for the upcoming season.
Delhi Capitals outclassed Royal Challengers Bengaluru by seven wickets in their Women's Premier League clash in Vadodara, snapping the table-toppers' five-match winning streak with a clinical all-round performance.
