Pakistan star back on top following major rankings reshuffle
Strong performances during the opening group stage of the T20 World Cup have been rewarded as a host of players made big gains on the latest rankings update.
The tight battle to be the No.1 ranked T20I all-rounder has continued as Pakistan's Saim Ayub rose to the top once again on the updated ICC Men's T20I Player Rankings.
Ayub and Sikandar Raza have enjoyed a tight battle in recent times, with the pair each enjoying some time at the top of the all-rounder charts during the lead-up to the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
Ayub's craft with spin pays off | Player Highlights | T20WC 2026
Pakistan's Saim Ayub was brilliant with the ball as he claimed important wickets in his 3/25 against India at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
And it was Ayub that again claimed the premier position this week, with the Pakistan star overtaking Raza at the top on the back of his three-wicket haul against India in Colombo at the T20 World Cup.
Raza drops to second as a result, while Nepal's Dipendra Singh Airee (up two places) and Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai (up four spots) share fourth place on the same list following some good recent efforts.
Dipendra Singh Airee smashes one hard to the boundary | T20WC 2026
There is plenty of movement in the other categories too, with Sri Lanka hard-hitter Pathum Nissanka gaining three places to move to third on the list for T20I batters after his brilliant century against Australia in Kandy.
India opener Abhishek Sharma holds on to his lead at the top of the batter rankings despite some recent form concerns, while teammate Ishan Kishan jumps a whopping 17 places to eighth overall following his Player of the Match heroics against Pakistan.
Kishan unleashes fearless hitting | POTM Highlights | T20WC 2026
Ishan Kishan's swashbuckling innings of 77 runs off 40 balls set up India's big win against Pakistan at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
There are also big gains on the batter rankings for South Africa duo Ryan Rickelton (up 22 spots to 11th) and Aiden Markram (up six rungs to equal 15th), USA's Saiteja Mukkamalla (up 16 places to 21st) and England youngster Jacob Bethell (up 22 slots to 32nd) courtesy of some decent innings at the T20 World Cup.
It's also tight at the top of the T20I bowler rankings, with Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan gaining one place to move to second overall and close in on India counterpart Varun Chakravarthy at the head of proceedings.
Zimbabwe pacer Brad Evans jumps 10 spots to fifth following consecutive three-wicket hauls at the T20 World Cup, while there are also gains for India pair Axar Patel (up four places to 14th) and Jasprit Bumrah (up six spots to 15th) and Ireland spinner Matthew Humphreys (up 23 rungs to 23rd).
