Latest ICC Rankings Shake-Up: New Leaders in T20 and Test Cricket
Dubai, October 28: The latest ICC rankings have brought major changes across formats. India's Abhishek Sharma is now the world's top T20 batter after his blistering hundred against New Zealand in the third match of the series. He displaced Ishan Kishan to take the top spot.
In Test cricket, South Africa's Marco Jansen has risen to the top of two categories. He is now the No. 1 Test bowler and No. 1 Test all-rounder, marking the first time he has held top rankings in both.
Jansen's performance against Australia in the second Test at Gqeberha played a key role. Playing for South Africa, he scored 85 runs and picked up five wickets in Australia's first innings, changing the momentum of the game.
At 26, the left-arm pacer climbed 13 places to 56th in Test batting. In Test bowling he rose five spots to lead the rankings, overtaking Australia's Mitchell Starc. He also moved up one place in the all-rounder list to pass India's Ravindra Jadeja.
Jadeja had held the top Test all-rounder position for more than four years. Jansen's rise comes at a time when former South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn has described him as the best cricketer in the world.
Abhishek's return to the top followed a remarkable knock in Wellington on Tuesday. He scored 113 runs off 38 balls, reaching his century in 35 balls. His innings powered India to a six-wicket win and the series victory.
Earlier, Ishan Kishan had taken the top T20 spot from Abhishek after a strong performance against Ireland in July. Abhishek had first reached No. 1 in July 2025, ahead of Australia's Travis Head.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma also rose sharply. After being named Player of the Match in the second Test against Australia, he advanced four places to second in Test batting. England's Harry Brook is the only player above him.
Bavuma's first-innings 179 helped South Africa win the second Test and level the series 1-1.
Australia's Scott Boland moved up three places to sixth in Test bowling, while South Africa's Simon Harmer climbed 15 places to eighth in the Test all-rounder rankings.
In T20 rankings, India's Sanju Samson rose six places to 20th in batting and New Zealand's Finn Allen gained three places to 25th. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner jumped seven places to seventh in bowling, and India's Arshdeep Singh climbed six places to 15th.
ODI rankings were also affected by the ongoing tri-series featuring Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka. England's Ben Duckett and Harry Brook gained ground in batting. Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi moved up two places to sixth in bowling, while Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai rose 13 places to seventh.
Namibia's Bernard Scholtz climbed nine places to eighth, and Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi advanced five places to third in the ODI all-rounder rankings.