Following the exhilarating draw at the Manchester Test, Indian and England players saw significant rank jumps in the ICC listings. Among them, a new player has emerged at the top of the T20I batting ranks. Previously held by Travis Head, the No. 1 spot has a fresh occupant.
Indeed, young Indian batsman Abhishek Sharma has stormed the T20I rankings, becoming the third Indian after iconic players like Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav to claim the top spot. This remarkable feat sent waves through player rankings across the board, reflecting his stellar performance.
Source: aajtak
Abhishek Sharma announced his presence in international cricket with a dazzling T20I century against Zimbabwe last year. His recent performances against South Africa and England have further elevated his career, overtaking notable players like Head to seize the No. 1 T20I ranking.
Previously, Head clinched the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup top ranking by surpassing Suryakumar Yadav, maintaining this status until recently. However, his absence in Australia’s West Indies T20 series opened the door for Abhishek, marking him as India's third player to achieve the T20I top rank.
Suryakumar Yadav initially secured the No. 1 ranking, prior to Abhishek, while Virat Kohli set the precedent as India's first male player to maintain the top T20I ranking from 2014 to 2017.
Meanwhile, England’s seasoned batsman Joe Root solidified his standing in the Test rankings with impressive performance, including a 150-run innings in Manchester. This feat propelled him ahead of Australia’s revered Ricky Ponting, becoming the second-highest run-scorer in Test cricket. Concurrently, Jasprit Bumrah continues to hold the title of No. 1 Test bowler.
Pant's Test Ranking and the Decline of Yashasvi
India’s wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant has secured his position within the ICC's top-10 Test batsmen rankings. Despite an injury, his half-century in the Manchester Test elevated him to the seventh position. Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s rank slipped three places to the eighth position.
Jadeja Climbs the Rankings...
Experienced all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja received due acknowledgment for his unbeaten century in the Manchester Test's second innings. His batting ranking skyrocketed to a career-high, climbing five places to reach the 29th spot. Simultaneously, improvements were noted for England captain Ben Stokes, who ascended eight places to secure the 34th position.
