Mithali Raj

The ICC Team of the Year, led by England's Heather Knight, recognizes the achievements of some exceptional players in women's cricket who impressed one and all with their on-field exploits in a calendar year. India's ODI skipper Mithali Raj amassed 503 runs at an average of 62.87 in 2021. Her runs came at a time when the Indian team struggled as a unit, which makes her contribution even more important.

Mithali Raj will lead the same 15-member squad in the five ODIs against New Zealand from February 11 and 24, before opening their World Cup campaign against Pakistan on March 6 at the Bay Oval, Tauranga. The 21-year-old Rodrigues went through a lean patch in all the five ODIs she played since coming back from the pandemic-enforced break in women's cricket. She managed scores of 1, 9, 0, 8 and 4 in home fixtures against South Africa and a couple of away games in England.

Mithali Raj is the ninth time she is number one among the ICC women's ODI player rankings. In Tuesday's weekly update, which takes into account performances in the last three matches of the five-match series between the West Indies and Pakistan that Taylor's side won 3-2, the West Indies captain has lost 30 points after scoring 49 and 21 in the two times she batted.

The 38-year-old, who made 72 in the first ODI, struck 59 in the second match and then guided India to a four-wicket victory in the final match of the series with an unbeaten 75, gaining four spots to sit atop the latest weekly rankings.Mithali had started the tour in eighth position but her series aggregate of 206 runs - the best by a batter on either side -- has helped her reclaim the top position.