India’s stand-in skipper, Suryakumar Yadav, has solidified his position as the top-ranked T20I batsman in the latest ICC rankings released on Wednesday. Currently leading India in a three-match T20I series against South Africa in the absence of the injured Hardik Pandya, Yadav’s recent performance has helped him maintain a significant lead in the rankings.
Yadav’s impressive 36-ball 56 in the second T20I against South Africa not only contributed to India’s efforts but also earned him an additional 10 rating points, taking his total to 865. This places him comfortably ahead of Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan (787 rating points) and South Africa’s Aiden Markram (758), who occupy the second and third positions, respectively.
Having reached the top spot during the previous T20 World Cup, Yadav’s consistent form has made him a strong contender to retain his position leading into the upcoming tournament in the West Indies and the US.
In related movements in the rankings, South Africa’s Reeza Hendricks, after scoring 49 runs in the second match, climbed to the eighth position, while Tilak Varma moved up 10 spots to 55th. Rinku Singh’s maiden T20I fifty propelled him 46 places to the tied 59th position.
In the bowling rankings, star Afghan spinner Rashid Khan has joined India’s Ravi Bishnoi at the top. While Bishnoi was instrumental in India’s recent 4-1 T20I series win over Australia, he has been omitted from the current squad playing in South Africa. South Africa’s Tabraiz Shamsi rose two places to 10th in the rankings.
In the all-rounders’ rankings, India’s left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav jumped five spots to 32nd, while Aiden Markram improved two places to second, just behind India’s Ravindra Jadeja.
The Test rankings also saw movements, with New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips entering the top 100 at 55th place after being named the player of the match in the second Test. Ajaz Patel improved seven places to 33rd in the Test bowlers’ rankings, while Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan and Nayeem Hasan also made gains.
As Yadav continues to lead India in the ongoing series against South Africa, his stellar performances are expected to further cement his position as one of the premier T20I batsmen in the world.
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