India Maintains Supremacy in T20I Rankings, West Indies Soar to Fourth
As the highly anticipated ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2023 approaches, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has released its latest T20I team rankings, with India firmly holding onto the top spot. The inaugural tournament winners have amassed an impressive 264 rating points, solidifying their status as the preeminent force in the shortest format of the game.
Hot on India's heels is 2021 champions Australia, who occupy the second position with 257 points. Defending champions England, with 254 points, complete the top three, followed by a resurgent West Indies at number four with 252 points.
The West Indies' impressive rise in the rankings is a testament to their recent string of strong performances, particularly in their home series against South Africa. Their 3-0 sweep over the Proteas has propelled them to fourth place, ahead of New Zealand (250 points) and South Africa (244 points), who have slipped to seventh position.
Pakistan and South Africa share eighth place with identical ratings of 244 points, with Pakistan holding a slight edge on decimal points.
West Indies Players Reap Rewards of Impressive Home Series
Individual performances in the West Indies' triumphant home series have earned several players significant gains in the ICC rankings. Opening batter Brandon King's impressive tally of 159 runs has lifted him five places to eighth position. Johnson Charles, who smashed a belligerent 69 off 26 balls in the third T20I to earn Player of the Match honors, has climbed an impressive 17 places to 20th. Kyle Mayers has also made strides, jumping 12 places to 31st position with an aggregate of 102 runs.
Gudakesh Motie's exceptional spin bowling in the series has propelled him a remarkable 84 places to 27th. The left-arm spinner claimed eight wickets in the three-match series, showcasing his ability to trouble batters with his guile and accuracy.
Other Notable Movements
In the latest weekly update, England captain Jos Buttler has inched up to seventh position, while Jonny Bairstow has moved eight places to 36th. Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman has also made progress, advancing from 57th to 51st.
In the bowling rankings, Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi has climbed three places to 11th, while Imad Wasim has jumped 14 places to 38th. For the USA, Steven Taylor has made significant gains, progressing 28 places to 109 in the batting rankings. Bangladesh's Rishad Hussain has also impressed, moving up 38 places to 52nd in the bowling rankings.
As teams finalize their preparations for the upcoming World Cup, the ICC rankings provide a valuable snapshot of the current landscape of T20I cricket. The tournament promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with the world's best players competing for the coveted trophy.
