Bengaluru: India opener Abhishek Sharma has reached the pinnacle of the ICC Men’s T20I Batter Rankings, breaking a record that stood for nearly five years. Following a stylish half-century in India’s semi-final win over Sri Lanka at the Asia Cup 2025, Sharma achieved a rating of 931 points, surpassing the previous best of 919 points set by England’s Dawid Malan in 2020.

Record-breaking feat

The 25-year-old left-hander has surged to the top of the rankings just a year after making his international debut. His performance at the Asia Cup was outstanding, amassing 314 runs at an average of 44.85, earning him the Player of the Tournament award. In the process, he overtook fellow Indians Suryakumar Yadav (912 points) and Virat Kohli (909 points), establishing a commanding lead.

Abhishek now leads England’s Phil Salt by 82 rating points, while India teammate Tilak Varma holds third place following his 213-run contribution during the Asia Cup.

Rising stars and notable movers

Other notable performers at the Asia Cup who climbed the rankings include Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka, who moved up two spots to fifth with a career-high rating following 261 runs. Teammate Kusal Perera advanced to ninth, Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan jumped 11 places to 13th, and India’s Sanju Samson rose eight spots to 31st.

On the bowling front, India spinner Varun Chakravarthy retained his No.1 T20I bowler ranking after taking seven wickets in the Asia Cup. Kuldeep Yadav moved up nine places to 12th, Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi climbed 12 spots to equal 13th, and Bangladesh’s Rishad Hossain advanced six places to 20th.

Changes in all-rounder rankings

The all-rounder chart saw Pakistan’s Saim Ayub displace India’s Hardik Pandya to claim the top spot for the first time. Ayub’s eight wickets at the Asia Cup helped him rise four positions overall. Pandya now sits in second place, eight rating points behind Ayub. Other movers include Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz, up four spots to 13th, and Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka, up three places to equal 30th.

Conclusion

Abhishek Sharma’s meteoric rise in the T20I batter rankings highlights India’s emerging talent and dominance in the shortest format. With a string of high-impact performances at the Asia Cup, Sharma has not only set a new benchmark in the ICC rankings but also strengthened India’s reputation in international T20 cricket.