Cricket

Indian Cricketers Shine in ICC T20I Rankings After Asia Cup TriumphIndia's star cricketers Smriti Mandhana and Renuka Singh Thakur have made significant strides in the latest ICC T20I rankings, reflecting their exceptional performances in the recently concluded Women's T20 Asia Cup.Mandhana, India's vice-captain and opening batter, has moved up to fourth place among batters with 743 rating points. Her crucial 60-run knock in the final against Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in India's victory.Thakur, a fast bowler, has ascended to fifth place among bowlers with 722 rating points. Her impressive performance in the Asia Cup, where she took seven wickets, pushed her up four places in the rankings. She now trails only England's Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, India's Deepti Sharma, and Pakistan's Sadia Iqbal.Radha Yadav has also made notable progress, climbing seven places to 13th position. Her six wickets in the Asia Cup made her the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament.At the top of the batters' rankings, Australia's Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath continue to lead, with West Indies' Hayley Matthews in third place. South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt and Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu are ranked sixth and seventh, respectively.Athapaththu, who was named Player of the Tournament, has made the biggest gain in the rankings, moving up three places to sixth with 705 points. Her exceptional performance in the final, where she scored 61 runs, earned her a career-best rating.Other notable movements include Pakistan's Muneeba Ali, who climbed six places to 35th among T20I batters, and Bangladesh's captain Nigar Sultana, who moved up three positions to 14th. Sri Lanka's Harshitha Samarawickrama reached the 20th position after top-scoring with 69 not out in the final.These rankings highlight the remarkable talent and contributions of these players to their respective teams' successes in the recent Women's T20 Asia Cup.

Suryakumar Yadav maintains his second position in the ICC Men's T20I batting rankings, while Ruturaj Gaikwad makes significant progress to climb to seventh place. The rankings reflect the performances of players in the ongoing Zimbabwe tour, where India's backup players have showcased their talent.Gaikwad's impressive 77 not out in the second T20I against Zimbabwe has propelled him up 13 places in the rankings. Other Indian batters who have made gains include Rinku Singh (up four places to 39th) and Abhishek Sharma (debuts at 75th).In the bowlers' rankings, Axar Patel remains the lone Indian in the top 10 at ninth position, despite dropping two places. Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah have also slipped down the rankings.However, there have been some notable movements in the top 10 of the bowling rankings, with Adam Zampa, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Maheesh Theekshana gaining positions. India's Ravi Bishnoi has jumped eight places to 14th after taking six wickets in the first two games against Zimbabwe.In the T20I all-rounders' rankings, Hardik Pandya has dropped a place to second, while Wanindu Hasaranga of Sri Lanka has moved to pole position. India's Washington Sundar has entered the top 50, while Axar Patel is placed 12th.The Zimbabwe tour has provided an opportunity for India's backup players to stake their claim for a regular place in the side, especially with the retirement of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja. The performances of Gaikwad, Rinku Singh, and Abhishek Sharma have been particularly encouraging.

Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja, two stalwarts of Indian cricket, have bid farewell to T20I cricket after guiding India to a triumphant T20 World Cup 2024 victory over South Africa. Their illustrious careers in the shortest format culminated in a fitting farewell, with the World Cup trophy serving as a testament to their remarkable contributions.Kohli's match-winning knock in the final against South Africa propelled him to the 40th position in the ICC T20I batter rankings. However, a surprising twist emerged when Kohli also surpassed Jadeja in the latest ICC T20I all-rounders rankings.In their final ICC T20I all-rounders rankings, Kohli finished 79th while Jadeja placed 86th. Despite not bowling a single delivery in the T20 World Cup 2024, Kohli's 151 runs in the tournament proved decisive. Jadeja, on the other hand, endured a disappointing campaign with only 35 runs and a solitary wicket.Kohli's rise above Jadeja in the all-rounders rankings seems improbable, given that he has not bowled in international cricket for nearly eight years. Jadeja, in contrast, has consistently performed as a genuine all-rounder for India.However, the T20I rankings are subject to frequent fluctuations, particularly due to the inclusion of associate nations. In the case of all-rounders, both batting and bowling performances are considered.Kohli's bowling record in T20Is is modest, with 4 wickets in 13 innings at an average of 51 and an economy rate of 8.05. Jadeja, on the other hand, boasts an impressive 54 dismissals in 71 innings, averaging 29.85 with an economy of 7.13.However, when batting statistics are taken into account, the scenario shifts dramatically. Jadeja has accumulated 515 runs at an average of 21.45 and a strike rate of 127.16. Kohli, meanwhile, has amassed a staggering 4188 runs at an average of 48.69 and a strike rate of 137.04.As Kohli and Jadeja embark on the next chapter of their careers, their contributions to Indian cricket in the T20I format will be forever etched in the annals of the sport. Their retirement marks the end of an era, but their legacy will continue to inspire generations of cricketers to come.

T20I Batting Rankings Reshuffle: Travis Head Dethrones Suryakumar YadavThe ICC Men's T20I Batting Rankings have undergone a significant shakeup, with Australia's Travis Head dethroning India's Suryakumar Yadav from the top spot. Yadav, who has held the number one position since December 2023, has been displaced after Head's impressive performances in the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.Head's ascent to the summit was fueled by his remarkable 76-run innings against India, despite Australia's defeat and early exit from the tournament. This performance, coupled with his other strong showings, propelled him four places up the rankings, relegating Yadav to second place.Phil Salt, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan complete the top five, with Johnson Charles of the West Indies making a notable entry into the top ten. Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz also climbed five spots, narrowly missing out on a top-ten ranking.In the All-rounders Rankings, Australia's Marcus Stoinis relinquished his number one position, dropping to fourth. Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga reclaimed the top spot, with Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi and India's Hardik Pandya occupying the second and third positions, respectively.The bowling rankings remain unchanged, with England's Adil Rashid holding onto the top spot. However, there were some notable movements, including Rashid Khan of Afghanistan moving up to second place after his impressive performances in the T20 World Cup.Australian bowler Josh Hazlewood also made a significant jump, climbing three places to fourth. India's Kuldeep Yadav moved up 20 places to 11th, while Jasprit Bumrah jumped 44 spots to 24th. England's Jofra Archer also made a notable ascent, climbing 19 places to 38th.

Ahead of the highly anticipated T20 World Cup 2024, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has released updated rankings for T20I all-rounders, batters, and bowlers.T20I All-Rounders:Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga and Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan share the top spot in the T20I all-rounders rankings. Hasaranga's impressive performances have propelled him to the summit, while Shakib's consistent all-round contributions have kept him in contention. Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi remains in third place, followed by Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza and South Africa's Aiden Markram.T20I Batters:Ireland's Andrew Balbirnie has made significant strides in the T20I batters rankings, jumping six places to 53rd. His teammate Harry Tector has also improved, moving up 12 spots to 69th. Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman has climbed four places to 57th, while Suryakumar Yadav of India continues to dominate the rankings with 861 points.T20I Bowlers:Bangladesh pacers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman have made notable gains in the T20I bowlers rankings. Ahmed has moved up three places to 23rd, while Rahman has jumped five spots to 25th. India's Axar Patel is the only Indian bowler in the top five, holding fourth place with 660 points.Other Notable Movements:* Pakistan's Imad Wasim has improved his rankings in both the T20I bowlers and all-rounders lists.* England's Philip Salt remains in second place in the T20I batting rankings.* Only 23 rating points separate the top five players in the T20I all-rounders rankings, indicating a highly competitive field.

India's Suryakumar Yadav maintains his dominance as the world's top-ranked T20I batter, while Bangladesh's Taskin Ahmed and Mahedi Hasan have made significant gains in the latest ICC Men's T20I Player Rankings.Yadav, known for his explosive batting, leads the rankings with 861 points, a significant margin ahead of England's Phil Salt, who sits in second place with 802 points. Bangladesh's experienced batter Mahmudullah has also climbed two spots to equal 81st on the list.Taskin Ahmed, who impressed with six wickets in three matches against Zimbabwe, has jumped six places to 26th on the T20I bowler rankings, achieving a new career-high rating. Mahedi Hasan has also made a six-spot rise, moving up to equal 22nd place after claiming three wickets in two matches against Zimbabwe.Zimbabwe's Blessing Muzarabani has also made a notable improvement, jumping five places to 69th on the T20I bowler rankings thanks to his four wickets against Bangladesh.In the T20I batting rankings, Bangladesh's Towhid Hridoy has made a significant leap, moving from outside the top 100 to equal 90th place. The 23-year-old right-hander has scored 127 runs in the first three matches of the series against Zimbabwe, including two unbeaten knocks.Despite the gains made by other players, Suryakumar Yadav remains the undisputed leader in the T20I batter rankings, showcasing his consistent brilliance in the shortest format of the game.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released its annual team rankings update, with Australia claiming the top spot in Test cricket while India continues to dominate white-ball formats.Test Cricket:Australia's triumph in the World Test Championship final against India has propelled them to the summit of the Test rankings. With 124 rating points, they hold a 19-point advantage over third-placed England. India, the runners-up in the World Test Championship, sits in second place with 120 points. The top 10 remains largely unchanged, with South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and Bangladesh occupying positions four to nine, respectively.ODI Cricket:Despite losing to Australia in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 final, India retains its top ranking in ODI cricket with 122 points. Australia follows closely with 116 points, while South Africa (112), Pakistan (106), and New Zealand (101) complete the top five. England (95) and Sri Lanka (93) are separated by just two rating points in sixth and seventh place, respectively.T20I Cricket:India remains the undisputed leader in T20I cricket with 264 rating points. However, Australia has closed the gap to just seven points, moving up to third place ahead of England. Pakistan has dropped two places to seventh, while Scotland has made a significant jump to 12th position. South Africa (250) has moved up two places to fourth.Key Points:* Australia has surpassed India to become the top-ranked Test team.* India continues to dominate white-ball cricket, holding the top spot in both ODI and T20I formats.* The rankings update considers performances from May 2021 to May 2023, with recent results weighted more heavily.* The top 10 rankings in Test cricket remain largely unchanged, with Australia, India, and England occupying the top three positions.* In ODI cricket, India and Australia remain the top two teams, followed by South Africa, Pakistan, and New Zealand.* India maintains its dominance in T20I cricket, with Australia and England trailing behind.

Pakistan's Babar Azam has made significant strides in the ICC Men's T20I batter rankings, closing the gap on India's Suryakumar Yadav at the summit. Azam's impressive performance in the recently concluded series against New Zealand, where he amassed 125 runs in four innings, has propelled him to fourth place in the rankings.Azam's consistent batting displays have earned him a 10-point boost in his rating, bringing it to 763. He now trails Yadav by just 98 rating points, setting the stage for an intriguing battle for the top spot ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in June.Azam's teammate Fakhar Zaman has also made notable progress, climbing 10 places to 62nd position. Zaman's aggressive batting style yielded 104 runs in the series, showcasing his ability to contribute to Pakistan's batting lineup.New Zealand's Tim Seifert has emerged as a standout performer in the latest rankings update. The right-hander's impressive 85 runs in the series, compiled at a strike rate of 144.06, have seen him jump seven places to equal seventh position.The T20I bowler rankings have also witnessed some notable changes. Pakistan's pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi has moved up three places to 14th position after claiming eight wickets in four matches against New Zealand.With the ICC Men's T20 World Cup approaching, the latest rankings update provides a glimpse into the form and potential of the world's leading T20I players. Babar Azam's resurgence and the rise of other talented individuals promise an exciting tournament filled with intense competition and thrilling performances.