Indian cricket team opener Abhishek Sharma has reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the latest ICC Men’s T20I batting rankings released on Wednesday on the back of a sensational century against New Zealand in Wellington on Tuesday.
Abhishek, who had first risen to the top of the rankings back in July last year, was displaced from the perch by Indian teammate Ishan Kishan this July.
Abhishek Sharma produced a sensational display of power-hitting, smashing 113 off just 38 balls to spearhead India’s successful run chase against New Zealand in Wellington in the third T20I of a five-match bilateral series.
The left-hander raced to his half-century in just 15 deliveries as India stormed to 118/0 in the powerplay – the highest-ever total in the first six overs of a men’s T20I.
Abhishek brought up his century off just 35 balls, the joint-second-fastest by an Indian in the format. His blistering innings, featuring nine fours and 11 sixes, helped India overhaul a 199-run target in just 13.2 overs to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.
The 26-year-old had also scored 69 against West Indies in Indore earlier this month.
Ishan Kishan, meanwhile, slipped down to the third spot with Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan rising up to No. 2.
Indian T20 captain Shreyas Iyer, at No. 9, and Tilak Varma, at No. 10, are the other Men in Blue in the top 10.
T20 World Cup 2026 Player of the Tournament Sanju Samson also gained six spots in the latest rankings to break into the top 20.
Axar Patel is the top-ranked Indian bowler in the latest men’s T20I rankings at world No. 11 while Hardik Pandya, at No. 13, is the top all-rounder from the country.
India are world No. 2 in the T20 team rankings behind England.
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