The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released the latest T20I rankings following the completion of the five-match series between India and Zimbabwe. In a series that saw India emerge victorious with a 4-1 win despite an initial setback in the opening match, there have been significant shifts in the rankings, particularly for Indian bowlers.
Axar Patel, a formidable all-rounder who has consistently performed well in T20Is, has dropped out of the top 10 after being rested for the Zimbabwe tour. Patel, who was positioned at ninth in the ICC rankings prior to the series, has seen his rank plummet by four places, leaving him currently in the 13th position with 625 rating points. Cricket analysts and fans will watch closely as Patel is expected to return to the squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka later this month, where he will aim to regain his form and ranking.
The shake-up in the rankings isn’t limited to Patel alone. Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh, who also missed out on the Zimbabwe tour, have similarly experienced a decline in their positions. Kuldeep Yadav, renowned for his skillful spin bowling, has fallen to the 15th slot, a drop of four places from his previous ranking. Meanwhile, Bumrah, one of India’s premier fast bowlers, has slipped down to the 21st position, marking a substantial decline of seven places. Arshdeep Singh, another promising fast bowler, now finds himself in the 23rd position, having dropped five places.
Ravi Bishnoi, who played in all five matches against Zimbabwe, experienced mixed fortunes. Bishnoi started the series with a bang, securing six wickets in the first two games. However, he struggled to maintain this performance, going wicketless in the last three matches. This inconsistency has resulted in Bishnoi dropping from the 14th to the 18th spot in the latest rankings.
A silver lining for India comes in the form of Washington Sundar, who was named Player of the Series against Zimbabwe.
. Sundar impressed immensely, taking eight wickets in the five-match T20I series, which saw him soar up the rankings. Sundar has made a significant leap, climbing 36 places to secure the 46th rank among bowlers in the shortest format of the game.
At the top of the rankings, there has been no change among the elite bowlers. Adil Rashid continues to lead the rankings, with South African speedster Anrich Nortje and Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga maintaining their positions in the top three. Rashid Khan from Afghanistan remains in the fourth spot, while the West Indies’ Alzarri Joseph has made his way into the top 10, being the newest entrant at the elite level.
These latest rankings elucidate not only the shifting fortunes of individual players but also highlight the competitive nature of international cricket. As new series and tournaments approach, players’ performances can significantly impact their rankings, and every game offers another opportunity to climb or fall in the standings.
Recent updates in world cricket further underscore the fluid and dynamic nature of the sport. Highlights include the much-anticipated tours of Pakistan and Australia which headline New Zealand’s 2024-25 home summer schedule. England cricketing stalwart James Anderson has confirmed that despite his international retirement, he intends to continue playing, which was revealed by teammate Zak Crawley. In another development, Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya have impressive records as captains, which has led the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to consider them for the captaincy during the upcoming Sri Lanka tour.
As for the Indian camp, the focus now shifts towards the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, where the team will look to regain and perhaps improve their rankings. With key players like Patel likely to return, there is hope and anticipation for a stronger performance and a subsequent rise in the T20I rankings.
This concludes the latest update on the shifts and developments in the ICC T20I rankings post the India-Zimbabwe series. Stay tuned for more updates on rankings, player performances, and upcoming fixtures in the world of cricket.
