Indian cricket is celebrating as all-rounder Hardik Pandya regains the top spot in the ICC T20I all-rounders rankings, dethroning England’s Liam Livingstone and surpassing Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee. This ascent follows his impressive performances in the recent T20Is against South Africa where he contributed significantly with both bat and ball, including a standout spell of 1 for 8 in Johannesburg.
Adding to the Indian team’s joy is the meteoric rise of Tilak Varma in the batting rankings. The young sensation has catapulted up 69 places to the third position, right after Travis Head and Phil Salt, following his scoring spree that included back-to-back centuries. His teammate Suryakumar Yadav closely trails him in the rankings.
The series also spotlighted other significant movements in the ICC rankings. Sanju Samson, despite a fluctuating series marked by two centuries and two ducks, climbed 17 spots to the 22nd position. In the bowling department, left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh climbed to the ninth position after leading as the top fast bowler in the series against South Africa, capturing several crucial wickets in the closing games.
The rankings also noted advances for other international players. Australia’s Adam Zampa made significant strides, moving up five places to third among bowlers following a successful series against Pakistan. His teammate, Nathan Ellis, also jumped fifteen spots to the eleventh rank after a compelling performance.
On the international front, South Africa’s Tristan Stubbs and Heinrich Klaasen made notable advances in their rankings, although Klaasen remains outside the top 50. The T20I series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand saw Kusal Mendis rise to the 12th spot, while Sri Lanka’s success in the ODIs also pushed Maheesh Theekshana up six places to sixth in the bowling rankings, affecting the positions of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
These shifts in the ICC rankings not only highlight individual achievements but also set the stage for more thrilling cricket encounters in the future.