ICC T20I Rankings: Ishan Kishan closes in on No.1 Abhishek Sharma; Varun Chakaravarthy loses top spot

NEW DELHI: India’s young opener Abhishek Sharma has retained the No.1 spot in the latest International Cricket Council Men’s T20I batting rankings, even after a below-par campaign in the T20 World Cup 2026.

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The rankings update came days after India sealed a dominant 96-run victory over New Zealand in the final in Ahmedabad on March 8. The triumph helped India defend their crown and become the first side to win three T20 World Cup titles.

Despite enduring a difficult start to the tournament, Abhishek held on to the top ranking with 875 rating points. The left-handed batter had struggled early in the campaign, registering three consecutive ducks, but produced a spectacular turnaround when it mattered the most.




In the final, Abhishek smashed a blistering 52 off just 21 balls, striking six fours and three sixes to give India a flying start after being put in to bat. His explosive knock proved crucial in setting up India’s commanding total and ultimately the title-clinching victory.

Teammate Ishan Kishan climbed two places to second in the rankings after a prolific tournament in which he scored 317 runs. The wicketkeeper-batter also achieved a career-high rating following his consistent performances.

Elsewhere in the rankings, Tim Seifert jumped four places to sixth, while England’s Jacob Bethell surged 17 positions to 16th after impressive displays during the tournament.

In the bowling charts, Afghanistan star Rashid Khan reclaimed the No.1 spot, overtaking India’s Varun Chakaravarthy, who finished the tournament with 14 wickets.

Meanwhile, the all-rounders’ rankings remain closely contested, with Sikandar Raza and India’s Hardik Pandya holding the top two spots after reaching new career-high ratings following their strong World Cup campaigns.