In a remarkable ascent, Sri Lanka’s premier bowler Wanindu Hasaranga secured the number one position in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) T20I All-Rounder rankings, a feat announced on Wednesday, May 15. The 26-year-old talent shares this prestigious spot with renowned Bangladeshi player Shakib Al Hasan. This significant rise in the rankings can be credited to Hasaranga’s recently displayed prowess with both the ball and the bat in T20I matches.
Hasaranga’s cricketing journey shows a robust record with 104 wickets in only 63 T20I innings, a statistic that underscores his effectiveness as a bowler in the game’s shortest format. His contributions as a batsman are equally impressive, having amassed 650 runs bolstered by a solid strike rate of 130.52, including two notable half-centuries. Equally notable is his recent promotion to the captaincy role, which has seen him finesse his performance with the bat.
The spotlight also shines on Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza, who elevated his ranking to third in the all-rounder’s chart following an outstanding performance against Bangladesh, where he scored an unbeaten 72 from 46 balls in the fifth T20I game in Mirpur. Another noteworthy entrant into the top ten of the ICC T20I all-rounders is Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee, thanks to his consistent form.
Indian cricketers have also made their marks in the rankings, with Hardik Pandya being India’s top all-rounder, occupying the seventh position. Hardik is not alone; spin all-rounder Axar Patel ranks twentieth, making them the only Indian players within the top fifty all-rounders in the T20I rankings.
The ICC rankings also provided updates in other domains, notably in batting and bowling. India’s Suryakumar Yadav continues to lead as the top batsman in T20I, although Pakistan’s Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are seen as prominent challengers, especially with their upcoming T20I series against England starting on May 22. In T20I bowling, England’s Adil Rashid holds the crown, with Hasaranga himself coming in second, followed by Akeal Hosein in third place.
Aside from individual glory, these rankings reflect the dynamism and competition in the international cricket landscape. Players from various parts of the cricketing world are making strides in the rankings, showing that the talent pool in the T20I format is both diverse and rich.
Moreover, these rankings provide additional context to forthcoming cricket fixtures, such as the 2024 Indian Premier League, which has set a new record for six-hitting, and the various shifts and injuries affecting teams like the Punjab Kings.
In summary, the shimmering trajectory of Wanindu Hasaranga firmly places him in the upper echelons of T20 International cricket, a testament to his formidable skill as an all-rounder. His rapid rise is a beacon for young cricketers aspiring to make their mark in the impactful sphere of the T20I format, demonstrating that with talent, tenacity, and consistent performance, the pinnacle of the ICC rankings is within reach. As the cricketing season continues, all eyes will surely be on Hasaranga and his peers as they vie for supremacy on the global stage.
