Abhishek Sharma’s rapid rise changes the ICC T20I batting order
The latest ICC T20I rankings brought a notable reshuffle in the batting charts, with India’s Abhishek Sharma making the biggest upward move among the major names mentioned. His recent returns against Afghanistan, including an 82 in the first match and a 19-ball 39 in the second, helped him overtake Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan and move into second place.
The update is significant not only because of the position change, but also because of the pace at which Abhishek has closed in on the top spot. He now has 862 rating points, while fellow India batter Ishan Kishan leads the list with 913 points. Earlier this year, Abhishek had touched 931 points, which shows how sharply ICC T20I batting ratings can move over a short stretch of form.
| Player | Rank | Rating Points |
|---|
| Ishan Kishan | 1 | 913 |
| Abhishek Sharma | 2 | 862 |
| Sahibzada Farhan | 3 | Not specified |
Performance against Afghanistan drives the ranking surge
Abhishek’s rise is directly tied to output in the middle. Scores of 82 and 39 from just 19 balls in the second fixture indicate both volume and strike-rate value, two factors that weigh heavily in T20I rankings.
For batting charts, consistency combined with impact often matters more than one isolated score. In this case, Abhishek delivered a high-scoring innings followed by an ultra-fast cameo, a combination that typically boosts rating momentum in a format where every innings is heavily weighted.
Tilak Varma slips one place despite finishing roles
While Abhishek improved, Tilak Varma experienced a small ranking dip. The India vice-captain moved from seventh to eighth, with England’s Jos Buttler replacing him after an 80-run innings against Sri Lanka.
That shift underlines how competitive the top 10 has become. Even players contributing in winning causes can slide if peers around them produce larger scores or stronger recent match ratings.
| Player | Previous Rank | Latest Rank |
|---|
| Tilak Varma | 7 | 8 |
| Jos Buttler | 8 | 7 |
Why Sahibzada Farhan dropped without recent T20I matches
Sahibzada Farhan’s fall is one of the more interesting developments in the update. He has not played a T20I in the last six months, which means he has not had the opportunity to defend his rating points through recent performances.
That matters because ICC rankings reward recency and sustained output. Farhan’s stock had risen strongly after the 2026 T20 World Cup, where he scored 383 runs and broke Virat Kohli’s previous tournament record for most runs in a single T20 World Cup. However, without fresh T20I contributions, the ranking model can gradually push inactive players down as others accumulate new points.
| Player | Context | Ranking Impact |
|---|
| Sahibzada Farhan | No T20I in six months | Dropped from No. 2 |
| Abhishek Sharma | 82 and 39 vs Afghanistan | Moved up to No. 2 |
Bowling rankings also see major Indian movement
The latest update was not limited to batters. Varun Chakaravarthy rose two places to fifth in the T20I bowling rankings, even though he was ruled out of the IND vs AFG T20Is. Jasprit Bumrah also moved into the top 10, climbing seven positions to 10th.
For Bumrah, the rise is especially notable because it reflects the continued value of his limited-over record across formats. A seven-place jump in a single update suggests that the points spread in the bowling table remains tight, where one strong series or a lack of activity from rivals can alter the order quickly.
| Bowler | Latest Rank | Change |
|---|
| Varun Chakaravarthy | 5 | Up 2 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 10 | Up 7 |
Test rankings also shift after England’s 3-0 win
Beyond T20Is, the ICC Test rankings saw movement after England’s 3-0 series win over Pakistan. Ollie Robinson’s 21 wickets in three Tests lifted him two places to third among bowlers, behind Mitchell Starc and Matt Henry.
Bumrah and Pat Cummins both slipped in the same ranking table, landing at fourth and fifth respectively. On the batting side, Pakistan captain Babar Azam moved up two places to 13th after scoring 76 at Edgbaston, while Saud Shakeel also climbed two spots to 16th.
| Test Bowler | Latest Rank | Key Metric |
|---|
| Ollie Robinson | 3 | 21 wickets in 3 Tests |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 4 | Down from previous update |
| Pat Cummins | 5 | Down from previous update |
What the ranking update suggests
This ranking cycle highlights one central trend: recent match output continues to outweigh reputation. Abhishek Sharma’s climb, Tilak Varma’s small drop, and Farhan’s slide without recent T20Is all point to the same pattern.
In both batting and bowling, the margin between positions is narrow, and a single innings or spell can change the standing quickly. For India, the latest update is broadly positive, with Abhishek, Varun, and Bumrah all improving their positions. For Pakistan, the update is more mixed, with Farhan losing ground despite his earlier tournament record.
As the T20I calendar continues, these tables are likely to keep shifting based on volume, strike rate, wicket hauls, and match frequency. For now, Abhishek Sharma stands out as the most significant mover in the latest ICC update.