Suryakumar Yadav's time at the top of the ICC T20I batting rankings came to an end on Wednesday, June 26. Australia's Travis Head climbed to the number one spot, dethroning Suryakumar who had held the position since December 2023.
Travis Head pips Suryakumar Yadav to become new no.1 T20I batter
Head's impressive performance in the T20 World Cup as Australia's opening batsman was the key factor in this rankings shakeup. His aggressive batting style propelled him four places to the top. Suryakumar Yadav, Phil Salt, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan each slipped down one spot to make up the new top five. Head's rise was fueled by a blistering 76 runs off just 43 balls in Australia's final Super Eight match. However, despite his knock, Australia couldn't secure a victory against India. Their dream of retaining the 2021 title was shattered when Afghanistan defeated Bangladesh, booking their first-ever World Cup semi-final appearance. Head finished the tournament with a total of 255 runs in seven matches, averaging 42 runs per innings. Notably, his strike rate of 158 was the highest among batsmen who scored over 200 runs in a tournament where scoring freely wasn't always easy.
Despite scoring 149 runs in six World Cup matches at a strike rate of 139, Suryakumar Yadav finds himself just two rating points behind the new number one, Travis Head. However, Suryakumar has a chance to reclaim his top spot. India takes on England in the second semi-final on Thursday. A strong performance against England, followed by another good showing in a potential final appearance on Saturday, could see Suryakumar rise back to the No. 1 ranking.
The latest ICC rankings shake things up, with both new faces and returning stars climbing the charts. The top 10 batsmen remain unchanged, but the West Indies see a rise in Johnson Charles, who climbs four spots to join the elite group. Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz also makes a significant leap, moving up five positions.
All-rounders Shuffle
The all-rounder rankings witness a shift in power. Marcus Stoinis' reign at the top is short-lived, dropping him down to fourth. This paves the way for Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga to reclaim his throne. Mohammad Nabi of Afghanistan gains the number two spot, while India's Hardik Pandya moves up to third. The biggest mover is West Indies' Roston Chase, who jumps an impressive 17 places to land at the 12th position.
Bowling Rankings: Familiar Face at the Top, New Challenger Emerges
England's Adil Rashid maintains his dominance at the top of the bowling rankings. However, Afghanistan's Rashid Khan's stellar World Cup performance pushes him into the second spot. Australia's Josh Hazlewood also makes a move, climbing three places to secure the fourth position behind Hasaranga.
Resurgence of Bumrah
The rankings see a return of some familiar faces in the bowling department. Jasprit Bumrah of India makes a remarkable jump of 44 places, thanks to his impressive World Cup showing – 11 wickets in six innings with an exceptional economy rate. Kuldeep Yadav also showcases a comeback, rising 20 places to reach the 11th position. Finally, England's Jofra Archer marks his return from injury with a 19-place climb to the 38th spot.
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