Tilak Varma Becomes Highest-Ranked Indian T20I Batter; Hardik Pandya Reclaims No. 1 All-Rounder Spot

India’s rising cricket sensation, Tilak Varma, has achieved a career-best No. 3 position in the latest ICC T20I batting rankings.

The young Mumbai Indians batter made a significant leap of 69 places after back-to-back centuries in the T20I series against South Africa. This stellar performance not only cements Varma as the highest-ranked Indian batter in T20Is but also sees him surpass his captain, Suryakumar Yadav, who has dropped to the fourth position.

The rankings are currently led by Australia’s Travis Head, with England’s Phil Salt occupying second place.

A return to No.1 for one of India's best in the latest T20I Rankings 👊https://t.co/NpVQN2k53C

— ICC (@ICC) November 20, 2024

Tilak Varma’s Remarkable Rise

Tilak Varma was instrumental in India’s recent 3-1 series triumph against South Africa. Scoring 280 runs, including two centuries, Varma earned the “Player of the Series” award. His fearless batting and consistency have drawn comparisons to some of the best in the game, solidifying his position as a key player in India’s T20I setup.

Hardik Pandya Back on Top as No. 1 All-Rounder

Former T20I captain Hardik Pandya has reclaimed the No. 1 spot among T20I all-rounders, a position he last held following the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

The Mumbai Indians skipper displayed exceptional performances during the South Africa series, including an unbeaten 39 in the second match and an economical spell of 1/8 in the decisive fourth game.

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Pandya’s resurgence saw him surpass England’s Liam Livingstone and Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee in the rankings, highlighting his impact as a world-class all-rounder.

Other Notable Performances

• Sanju Samson: Climbed 17 places to 22nd in the T20I batting rankings after two centuries against South Africa.
• Arshdeep Singh: Moved up three spots to a career-high ninth in the T20I bowling rankings.
• Tristan Stubbs and Heinrich Klaasen (South Africa): Made strides, with Stubbs rising to 23rd and Klaasen reaching equal 59th.
• Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka): Advanced to 12th in T20I batting rankings.
• Shai Hope (West Indies): Leaped 16 places to 21st.

ODI Rankings Highlights

• Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana: Climbed to sixth in the ODI bowling rankings after his five-wicket haul against New Zealand.
• Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis: Made notable gains in the ODI batting rankings.
• New Zealand’s Will Young: Improved 12 spots to equal 22nd after his consistent performances against Sri Lanka.

Bowling Rankings

Australian bowlers Adam Zampa and Nathan Ellis registered significant gains, while Arshdeep Singh’s rise highlights India’s strength in the bowling department.