After 8 wickets in comeback series against Ireland, Rashid Khan enters top 10 T20I bowlers in ICC Rankings

Afghanistan T20I captain Rashid Khan made a spectacular return to international cricket after recovering from back surgery. In the three-T20I series against Ireland, Rashid picked up eight wickets from three games and was rewarded for performances with a rise in T20I bowler rankings. The leg-spinner jumped four places to reach the ninth spot. Rashid has 645 rating points, the same as Mitchell Santner who moved one place up. 
 

Rashid’s spectacular comeback

In his comeback game after three months, Rashid picked up three wickets but in a losing cause. In the second T20I, he took four wickets for 14 runs and broke the record for best bowling figures by an Afghanistan captain in the format. The record belonged to Nawroz Mangal who got three wickets from 19 runs. He contributed with a 12-ball 25 cameo as Afghanistan won the game by 10 runs. 
 

In the third and final T20I of the series, he picked up one wicket but conceded just 12 runs from his quota of four overs. Afghanistan registered a comprehensive win to win the series 2-1. Rashid was adjudged the ‘Player of the Series’.

He will be in action in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Gujarat Titans (GT) will start their IPL 2024 campaign against Mumbai Indians (MI) on March 24.
 

There were no other changes in the top 10. Adil Rashid is on the top with 726 rating points, way ahead of second-placed Wanindu Hasaranga who has 687 rating points. There are two Indian bowlers in the top 10. Axar Patel is ranked fourth followed by Ravi Bishnoi in sixth.

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Surya on top, Gurbaz slips after poor series

There were no changes in the top 10 ICC batter rankings. Suryakumar Yadav is sitting uncontested at the top with 861 rating points, 59 more than second-ranked Phil Salt. 
 

Afghanistan's wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz slipped four places to the 22nd spot after managing to score just nine runs in the T20I series against Ireland. 

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Shakib still on top

There was one change in the top 10 all-rounders' rankings. Namibia's JJ Smit slipped one place to 11th, just below Shadab Khan. The top spot is occupied by Bangladesh's veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan.
 

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