India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has regained the number-one position in the ICC Men's T20I All-Rounder Rankings. Meanwhile, rising star Tilak Varma made a meteoric rise into the top 10 batters as the ICC released the latest rankings updates on Wednesday.
That was enough in the winning cause during India's 3-1 series triumph over South Africa. His unbeated 39 in the second T20I helped stabilise India's innings and a tight spell of 1/8 in three overs came at the right moment in the decisive fourth game of the series for Pandya to help seal the victory and make him the No. 1 ranked T20I all-rounder in the world again, just like during the aftermath of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup at the start of this year.
India's Player of the Series was Tilak, who showed the qualities of a great player. The young batter smashed two centuries and scored 280 runs during the series, moving 69 spots to third in the T20I batting rankings. This makes him India's top-ranked T20I batter, as captain Suryakumar Yadav fell to fourth place.
Sanju Samson, another consistent performer for India, has moved up 17 places to the 22nd position among T20I batters after scoring two centuries in the same series.
South Africa's Tristan Stubbs (23rd) and Heinrich Klaasen (59th) also gain. There are gains for T20I batters Kusal Mendis of Sri Lanka, the right-hander improving three places to equal 12th, and West Indies hard-hitter Shai Hope, who moves up 16 places to 21st, while versatile Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis jumps 10 spots to 45th after his half-century against Pakistan.
In the bowling department, Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh reached a career-high ninth place, while Australia’s Adam Zampa (up five places to 5th) and Nathan Ellis (up one place to 11th) made notable progress.
The rankings also showed dominance in the ODI series against New Zealand for Sri Lanka. Spinner Maheesh Theekshana broke into the top six bowlers, while batters Kusal Mendis (up three places to 12th) and Avishka Fernando (up five rungs to 62nd) made key strides. For New Zealand, Will Young's consistency propelled him 12 places to 22nd.
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