Saim Ayub ends Pandya’s T20I all-rounder reign

India's Abhishek Sharma creates history in the batter’s rankings

India's Abhishek Sharma has increased his T20I batting rankings lead, while Pakistan's Saim Ayub has ended Hardik Pandya T20I all-rounder reign.

The accolades continue to flow for Abhishek Sharma as the India opener broke a record that has lasted for almost five years by reaching the highest-ever rating on the ICC Men's T20I Batter Rankings.

Abhishek reached a rating of 931 points following a stylish half-century during India's successful semi-final victory over Sri Lanka at the Asia Cup and in the process overtook the previous best rating of 919 points, which was achieved by England right-hander Dawid Malan in 2020.

It means Abhishek increases his lead at the top of the rankings for T20I batters, with the left-hander also surpassing the previous best ratings of teammates Suryakumar Yadav and Virat Kohli before he finished the week with a total of 926 rating points.

Abhishek only made his international debut last year, but the 25-year-old has put together an amazing record and was adjudged the Player of the Tournament at the Asia Cup for his total of 314 runs at an average of 44.85.

He now leads England's Phil Salt in second place by a total of 82 rating points, while India teammate Tilak Varma remains in third place on the batter rankings after his 213 runs at the Asia Cup.

Sri Lanka right-hander Pathum Nissanka gains two spots to improve to fifth with a new career-high rating following his 261 runs at the Asia Cup, while teammate Kusal Perera (up two places to ninth), Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan (up 11 rungs to 13th) and India's Sanju Samson (up eight spots to 31st) also make gains following some impressive efforts at the same tournament.

India spinner Varun Chakravarthy remains the No.1 ranked bowler in T20I cricket after seven scalps at the Asia Cup, with teammate Kuldeep Yadav (up nine spots to 12th), Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi (up 12 places to equal 13th) and Bangladesh tweaker Rishad Hossain (up six rungs to 20th) among the big movers on the latest rankings.

There is also change at the top of the all-rounder charts, with Pakistan's Saim Ayub displacing India's Hardik Pandya to claim top spot in the category for the first time.

The left-hander claimed eight wickets in seven games and scored just 37 runs in the tournament. Though this performance doesn’t look satisfying, but was enough to claim top spot for India’s Hardik Pandya.

He has moved four places to the top of the charts and now has 241 rating points. Meanwhile, Hardik, who missed the Asia Cup finale, drops one place down to the second spot and has 233 points.

Often used in the power play, Saim used his spin-bowling to full effectiveness during the tournament and went on to claim 8 wickets in seven matches, at an average of 16, and an economy of just 6.40.

He was Pakistan’s best bowler and was often unplayable as the ICC recognised his efforts and gave him a jump in the rankings.

Pandya drops to second and eight rating points behind Ayub, while Pakistan's Mohammad Nawaz (up four spots to 13th) and Sri Lanka's Charith Asalanka (up three places to equal 30th) were the other players to make ground in the all-rounder category this week.