India’s victorious campaign at the T20 World Cup 2026 has triggered significant movement in the latest ICC T20I Rankings, with several Indian players making notable gains. While explosive opener Abhishek Sharma managed to hold on to the No.1 position among batters, wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson made one of the biggest jumps after his match-winning performances in the knockout stage of the tournament.
Sanju Samson’s meteoric rise after T20 World Cup heroics
Fresh from being named the Player of the Tournament at the T20 World Cup 2026, Samson has enjoyed a remarkable climb in the ICC rankings for T20I batters. The stylish wicketkeeper-batter moved up 18 places to reach No.22 in the latest rankings update.
Samson played a pivotal role in India’s journey to their third T20 World Cup title, producing a series of crucial innings when the team needed them the most. He smashed three consecutive half-centuries in knockout games, including commanding knocks in both the semifinal and the final.
Before India’s must-win clash against the West Indies earlier in the tournament, Samson was placed at No.65 in the rankings. However, his match-winning performances dramatically transformed his standing.
The highlight of his campaign came in the final against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where Samson delivered a breathtaking 46-ball 89. The innings not only helped India secure the trophy but also propelled him to a career-best rating of 637 points. His consistency under pressure and ability to anchor innings in high-stakes matches have been widely praised across the cricketing world.
Abhishek Sharma survives scare to retain No.1 ranking
Despite a relatively quiet start to the T20 World Cup campaign, Abhishek has managed to retain the No.1 position in the ICC T20I batting rankings. The young opener struggled for most of the tournament and had scored only 89 runs in his first seven matches, putting his top ranking under threat. However, he delivered when it mattered the most.
In the grand finale, Abhishek produced a stunning counterattack, blasting a historic 18-ball half-century, one of the fastest fifties in a T20 World Cup final. That explosive knock proved decisive not only in India’s victory but also in helping him hold on to the top spot in the global rankings.
Meanwhile, his opening partner Ishan Kishan also enjoyed a strong tournament. Kishan’s impactful performances, including a crucial fifty in the final, have helped him climb a couple of positions to become the No.2-ranked T20I batter in the world.
Rashid Khan replaces Varun Chakaravarthy as top T20I bowler
There has also been a significant shift in the T20I bowling rankings. Afghanistan’s superstar spinner Rashid Khan has reclaimed the No.1 spot among T20I bowlers with a rating of 753 points. His consistent performances throughout the tournament in the subcontinent helped him overtake India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, whose form dipped in the latter stages of the event.
Chakaravarthy had entered the tournament as the top-ranked bowler but slipped down after a difficult second half of the competition. India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah enjoyed a slight rise in the rankings as well. Bumrah moved up one place to No.6, thanks to his match-winning spell in the World Cup final where he picked up a crucial four-wicket haul against New Zealand.
However, fellow pacer Arshdeep Singh experienced a minor setback. After a few expensive outings in the knockout stages, he dropped three places in the latest bowling rankings.
For latest cricket news & updates, visit CricketTimes.com.
