India Retains Top Spot in T20I Rankings Ahead of World Cup

India, the inaugural T20 World Cup champions, maintain their dominance at the top of the ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings ahead of the upcoming tournament. With 264 rating points, India leads the pack, followed by Australia (257 points) and defending champions England (254 points).

The West Indies, two-time winners, have surged to fourth position with 252 points, buoyed by their recent 3-0 series victory over South Africa. This triumph has pushed South Africa down to seventh place. New Zealand sits at fifth with 250 points, while Pakistan and South Africa are tied at 244 points, with Pakistan holding a slight edge.

Individual performances have also been noteworthy. West Indies opener Brandon King has climbed to eighth position in the batting rankings after amassing 159 runs in the recent home series. Johnson Charles, named Player of the Match in the third T20I, has jumped 17 places to 20th. Kyle Mayers has moved up 12 places to 31st, and left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie has soared 84 places to 27th after taking eight wickets.

In the latest weekly update, England captain Jos Buttler has moved up to seventh position, while Jonny Bairstow has risen eight places to 36th. Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman has advanced from 57th to 51st. In the bowling rankings, Shaheen Afridi has ascended three places to 11th, and Imad Wasim has climbed 14 places to 38th.

For the USA, Steven Taylor has made significant progress, advancing 28 places to 109th in the batting rankings. Bangladesh's Rishad Hussain has moved up 38 places to 52nd in the bowling rankings.

As the T20 World Cup approaches, these rankings provide a snapshot of the teams and players to watch. India's dominance, the West Indies' resurgence, and the individual brilliance on display promise an exciting tournament.

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