Abhishek Sharma Scales T20I Peak, Joins Kohli and Suryakumar in Elite Club
Abhishek Sharma has officially etched his name into Indian cricket history by becoming the world’s top-ranked T20I batter, as per the latest ICC Men’s rankings. The 24-year-old southpaw is now only the third Indian male cricketer, after Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav, to achieve the No.1 position in the shortest format. This landmark comes after a period of sustained brilliance following his debut T20I century against Zimbabwe last year.
Sharma’s rise to the summit has seen him leapfrog Australia’s Travis Head, who had occupied the top spot since the conclusion of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Head’s recent absence from Australia’s Caribbean tour provided an opening, and Sharma seized it with consistent match-winning performances, including his memorable hundred against England earlier this year at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
Abhishek’s growth has been both rapid and steady, combining explosive strokeplay with a maturity that belies his age. His century against England wasn’t just a flash in the pan — it symbolized his transformation into one of the most dependable white-ball batters in India’s current setup.
With this feat, Sharma now sits alongside Indian legends Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav, whose legacy he is now beginning to carry forward. Meanwhile, Tilak Varma retains the No.3 spot in the T20I rankings, underlining the depth of India’s young batting arsenal. Captain Suryakumar Yadav remains sixth, adding further credibility to India’s dominance in T20I batting.
Pant’s Heroics Despite Injury Rewarded in Test Rankings
In the Test arena, India also saw significant movements following their gritty performance at Old Trafford, where they battled five sessions to draw the fourth Test against England. At the heart of this resistance was wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who, despite nursing a fracture, scored a valiant half-century. That innings has pushed him one place higher to seventh in the ICC Test batting rankings — a commendable reward for resilience under pressure.
Joining him in the upward trajectory is Ravindra Jadeja, who struck an unbeaten century in the second innings. His efforts saw him climb five spots to 29th in the Test batting charts, a career-best ranking. Jadeja continues to be an indispensable asset across formats, combining reliability with flair.
On the bowling front, Jasprit Bumrah holds firm at No.1 in the Test rankings. His continued dominance underscores India’s potency with the ball, regardless of conditions or opposition.
Mixed Week for Indian Batters in Tests
While Pant and Jadeja enjoyed a rise, not all Indian batters had cause for celebration. Shubman Gill retained his ninth position after a composed century, but Yashasvi Jaiswal dropped three places to eighth. The left-hander has struggled for consistency on English soil, and his recent dip has been reflected in the rankings.
Joe Root Extends Test Dominance, Stokes and Duckett Rise
England’s Joe Root reaffirmed his stature as one of the game’s greats with a monumental 150 at Old Trafford. His knock not only widened the gap between him and his nearest rivals in the Test batting rankings, but also saw him surpass Australian great Ricky Ponting to become the second-highest run-scorer in Test cricket history — a milestone few have achieved.
All-rounder Ben Stokes also saw an upturn in fortunes, rising eight places to joint 34th in the batting rankings and jumping to third among Test all-rounders. His aggressive intent and leadership remain pivotal to England’s red-ball ambitions.
Another big gainer was Ben Duckett, whose attacking 94 saw him leap five positions into the top 10 of the Test batting rankings. His re-entry marks England’s strong batting display in the fourth Test, even though the match ended in a stalemate.
Looking Ahead
India’s rise across formats, powered by a mix of youth and experience, suggests a healthy transition phase is well underway. With Abhishek Sharma leading the T20I charts and players like Pant and Jadeja thriving in Tests, the future looks bright. Meanwhile, England’s stalwarts continue to shape records and maintain pressure. As international cricket heads into a packed second half of the year, fans can expect more shake-ups in the rankings — and more breakout performances
