Ishan Kishan has become the world’s top-ranked T20I batsman for the first time, ending teammate Abhishek Sharma’s year-long stay at the pinnacle of the ICC men’s rankings. Following India’s 2-0 T20I series win over Ireland in Belfast, the India opening batsman moved up to No. 1 after the latest rankings update. Kishan reached career-high rating, surpassing Abhishek, with a difference of only seven rating points between the two Indian batsmen.

Kishan was one of the standouts for India in the tournament, scoring 317 runs at a strike rate of almost 200. His match-winning innings against Pakistan in Colombo earned him the Player of the Match award and laid the foundation for his rise to the top of the rankings. He has now become the fourth Indian male batsman to achieve the No. 1 position in T20Is, joining Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav and Abhishek Sharma.

Abhishek’s stay at the top lasted for almost a year before Kishan moved on in the latest update. Only seven rating points separate the two, which underlines how well matched the pair are.

The rankings also reflect Ireland’s encouraging performance in their historic series win over India. Lorcan Tucker has moved up four places to joint 77th among T20I batsmen, while Ross Adair has moved up six places to 84th after making valuable contributions with the bat.

Left-arm fast bowler Matthew Humphreys reached a career-best 25th position among T20I bowlers after taking four wickets in two matches. India’s all-rounder Shivam Dubey also progressed three places to seventh, while Ireland’s Gareth Delaney and Harry Tector moved up to 24th and 38th respectively.

There were changes at the top of the Test rankings as well. Australia’s Travis Head became the world No. 1 Test batsman for the first time after England’s Harry Brook and Joe Root were defeated in a quiet Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. Brook slipped to second place and Root to third place.

New Zealand’s victory provided significant benefits to many of their batsmen. Rachin Ravindra moved up to seventh, Daryl Mitchell moved up to 11th, Devon Conway jumped 14 places to joint 15th and Tom Latham moved up to joint 31st.

India also topped the Test bowling rankings through Jasprit Bumrah, who moved ahead of New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry.

England captain Ben Stokes has moved up to third place in the rankings for Test all-rounders after closing his international career.

West Indies fast bowlers Shamar Joseph and Kemar Roach were also rewarded after their match-winning performances against Sri Lanka in Antigua. Joseph moved up to joint 14th in the bowling rankings, while Roach moved up to 17th.

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