Every now and then, a player comes along and just completely rewrites the history books. This week, that player is India's rapidly-rising star, Abhishek Sharma. The latest ICC T20 International Rankings just dropped, and he has absolutely smashed a long-standing record, achieving the highest-ever rating for a T20I batter. It’s a feat that has sent waves through the cricketing world, cementing his place at the very top of the game.
Key Highlights
- ✓ Abhishek Sharma achieved the highest-ever T20I batting rating with a historic 931 points.
- ✓ He broke a five-year-old record previously held by England's Dawid Malan (919 points).
- ✓ Pakistan's Saim Ayub has overtaken India's Hardik Pandya to become the new No. 1 T20I all-rounder.
- ✓ Abhishek was named Player of the Tournament at the Asia Cup, scoring 314 runs at an average of 44.85.
- ✓ Spinner Varun Chakravarthy successfully defended his title as the No. 1 ranked bowler in T20I cricket.
A New King is Crowned in the T20I Rankings
Let's just take a moment to appreciate the magnitude of this. Abhishek Sharma reached an incredible 931 rating points. To put that into perspective, the previous record was 919 points, set by England's Dawid Malan way back in 2020. That record stood for nearly five years, a testament to how difficult it is to achieve that level of consistent, high-impact performance in the fast-paced world of T20 cricket.
What’s even more impressive is who he left in his wake. In reaching this new peak, Abhishek also surpassed the previous best ratings of his own powerhouse teammates, Suryakumar Yadav (912) and the legendary Virat Kohli (909). To be mentioned in the same breath is one thing; to eclipse their best-ever ratings is something else entirely. It firmly establishes him as the undisputed king of the T20I batting world right now.
And here's the kicker: the 25-year-old only made his international debut last year. It’s been a meteoric rise, to say the least. He finished the week with 926 rating points, but that peak of 931 is the number that will be etched in the record books for a long, long time. The gap he's created is massive, putting a whole lot of daylight between himself and the rest of the pack.
The Asia Cup Performance That Fueled the Fire
So, how did he do it? The answer lies in his breathtaking performance at the recently concluded Asia Cup. His stylish half-century during India's semi-final win over Sri Lanka was one of the key performances that pushed his rating into historic territory. But honestly, his entire tournament was a masterclass in aggressive, intelligent T20 batting. He was simply on another level.
The numbers from the Asia Cup tell the whole story. Abhishek was deservedly named the Player of the Tournament for his incredible run, amassing a total of 314 runs across seven games. He did this at a brilliant average of 44.85, but the stat that really jumps off the page is his strike rate, which was over 200. That's not just good; it's game-changing. It’s the kind of form that single-handedly wins tournaments, which is exactly what India did.
A Look at the Rest of the Batting Leaderboard
While Abhishek Sharma was the headline act, the Asia Cup caused plenty of other shifts in the batting rankings. His teammate, Tilak Varma, continues to hold his own, remaining in third place after a solid tournament where he scored 213 runs. He’s another exciting young talent solidifying his place among the world’s best.
The tournament was a boon for several other players, too. Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka was a big gainer, jumping two spots to land at fifth with a new career-high rating after scoring an impressive 261 runs. His teammate Kusal Perera also moved up two places to ninth, while Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan made a huge leap of 11 spots to land at 13th. Even India's Sanju Samson saw a nice bump, climbing eight spots to 31st after some solid efforts.
Big Shake-Ups in the Bowling and All-Rounder Charts
It wasn't just the batters making moves. In the bowling department, Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy held firm, retaining his position as the No. 1 ranked T20I bowler in the world. His seven scalps at the Asia Cup were crucial in ensuring he stayed at the top of the pile, continuing his excellent run of form.
There were some other significant climbers on the bowling list. India's Kuldeep Yadav jumped an impressive nine spots to 12th, while Pakistan's pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi made a massive 12-place leap to find himself in a tie for 13th. Bangladesh's tweaker Rishad Hossain also made a notable six-rung climb to 20th, showing just how impactful a good tournament can be.
Perhaps the biggest shake-up outside of Abhishek's record came in the all-rounder category. For the first time, Pakistan's Saim Ayub has claimed the top spot, displacing India's Hardik Pandya. This was largely thanks to his excellent work with the ball during the Asia Cup. Despite being in what was described as "horrendous batting form," he collected eight crucial wickets, which saw him rise four places to overtake Pandya. It’s a great reminder that the "all-rounder" title means contributing in every facet of the game.
Pandya now drops to second, sitting just eight rating points behind Ayub, setting up an exciting battle for the top spot in the coming months. Other all-rounders like Pakistan's Mohammad Nawaz (up four spots to 13th) and Sri Lanka's Charith Asalanka (up three places to 30th) also made positive ground this week.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that the latest ICC Men's T20I Rankings have given us a new, undisputed king of batting in Abhishek Sharma, whose record-breaking 931 points sets a new benchmark for excellence. It’s a historic moment for the young Indian opener and for cricket itself. Beyond his incredible achievement, the rankings reflect a wider shift, with Saim Ayub's rise to the top of the all-rounder charts and Varun Chakravarthy's continued dominance with the ball. The Asia Cup clearly had a massive impact, completely reshaping the landscape of T20I cricket and setting the stage for some thrilling rivalries ahead.
💬 We'd love to hear your thoughts! Join the charcha—keep it friendly, fun, and respectful.