In the latest T20I rankings released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on August 10, Suryakumar Yadav retained his number two position while Shreyas Iyer climbed to the 19th spot after gaining six positions. Suryakumar is the only Indian batter in the top 10 while Iyer's jump has ensured that the Men in Blue at least have two willow-wielders in top 20 in the rankings.
Both Suryakumar and Iyer didn't have the best of series with the bat against the West Indies in the recently-concluded five-match T20I series, which India pocketed by a commanding margin of 4-1. But both batters at least played one scintillating knock against the Men in Maroon.
The Mumbai Indians' batter aggregated 135 runs in four innings against the Windies at an average of 33.75. Only in one out of the four innings, the 31-year-old looked at his flamboyant best where he smashed 76 runs in 44 balls.
Meanwhile, after being promoted at the top of the order in the dead-rubber, Iyer displayed his power-hitting potential as he played an attractive knock of 64 runs off 40 balls and ended the tour on a high.
Pakistan captain and run-machine Babar Azam continues to hold on to his number one position but Suryakumar is breathing down his neck. There is a difference of only 13 points between the two batters, who are also the only two batters with more than 800 points.
In bowling, seasoned pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar slipped to the 9th spot while spinners Ravi Bishnoi (44th) and Kuldeep Yadav (87th) scaled up the ranking after performing superbly against a beleaguered Windies batting line-up.
Bishnoi (eight wickets in three innings) ended the series as India's highest wicket-taker while Kuldeep, who was included in the XI for the final T20I, bagged three wickets.
Australia's Josh Hazlewood remains firmly stationed at the top of the bowling rankings.
