Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan Hold Top Two Spots as Connor Esterhuizen Surges in ICC T20I Rankings
India’s rising stars Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan continue to dominate the ICC Men’s T20I batting rankings, retaining the top two positions in the latest update. While the Indian duo maintains their stronghold at the summit, South African batter Connor Esterhuizen has made a meteoric rise following his outstanding performances against New Zealand.
Esterhuizen’s Rapid Rise
Esterhuizen, a powerful right-handed batter, began his international T20I career in style during South Africa’s five-match series in New Zealand. Scoring a total of 200 runs in the series—double that of any other player—he earned the Player of the Series award. This remarkable start propelled him from outside the top 100 to 39th in the ICC T20I batting rankings, marking a significant breakthrough for the young Proteas batsman.
New Zealand wicketkeeper Tim Robinson also made strides, moving up two places to tie for 32nd after contributing 81 runs against South Africa.
Among the top-20 batters, only minor changes were observed: England’s Jos Buttler moved up one spot to eighth, while New Zealand’s Tim Seifert dropped one place to ninth.
Bowling Rankings: South Africans Shine
Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan continues to lead the T20I bowling charts, but several South African bowlers made notable gains following the New Zealand series.
- Gerald Coetzee jumped 36 spots to tie for 52nd.
- Ottneil Baartman climbed 10 places to 56th.
- George Linde rose six positions to tie for 62nd.
New Zealand’s inexperienced seamer Zakary Foulkes also earned recognition, moving up 11 slots to 70th. Coetzee’s all-round contribution—eight wickets and 18 runs—also saw him climb 14 places to tie for 72nd among T20I all-rounders.
All-Rounders Rankings
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza continues to dominate the T20I all-rounders list, maintaining his position as the leading all-rounder in the shortest format.
Looking Ahead
With the T20I calendar packed with upcoming series, these rankings are likely to witness further reshuffling. Players like Esterhuizen and Robinson are emerging as exciting young talents, while established stars such as Sharma, Kishan, and Rashid Khan continue to showcase consistency. South Africa’s rise in both batting and bowling highlights the team’s growing strength in T20 cricket, signaling an exciting future for the Proteas.
