Indian cricket got a huge boost in the latest ICC rankings as wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan took the number 1 place in the men's T20I batsman list and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah returned to the top of the Test bowling rankings. The fact that India's best performers in all formats are still on top and Kishan's stunning comeback and Bumrah's continued success in the game is inspiring and so is the top honors in international cricket is in a position to shine all the more so.
Kishan's ascent to the top has been one of the best stories of the year. After more than two years out of India's T20I team, the left-handed batter became a star in January and has not looked back since. His great performance against New Zealand, achieving 76 and a strong century afterwards, has cemented his place in India's T20 World Cup squad.
The 27-year-old took that momentum into the global tournament and became one of India’s most consistent batters. Kishan managed 317 runs in the T20 World Cup and was the fourth-highest run-scorer as India won more T20 World Cup honours in 2024. His aggressive stroke play as well as his consistency at the top of the order and ability to dominate both pace and spin has been the key to India’s success in the shortest format.
With his rise to the top, Kishan is only the fourth Indian men's batsman who has come to the No. 1 position in the ICC T20I batting rankings. He joins the ranks of Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav and his fellow Indian batsman Abhishek Sharma, who he replaced at the top. For Kishan, it is another landmark and marks his development as one of the world's top T20 batters.
India had another reason to celebrate as all-rounder Shivam Dube made some good progress in the ICC T20I all-rounder rankings. Dube climbed three spots to No. 7 after he had a big two-match T20I series with Ireland. While India lost the series 2-0, Dube was big with bat and ball. He scored 45 runs in the series and took three wickets at an average of 14.33 while maintaining an economy rate of 7.16. As a game-maker, he has been able to contribute in many departments and has contributed to India's good balance in white-ball cricket.
Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah has reclaimed the No. 1 place in the ICC Test bowling rankings and is still one of the top fast bowlers in world cricket. Bumrah is back to the top after New Zealand pacer Matt Henry fell to second place after his injury in the recent Test. The Indian speedster has always performed the best in match-winning situations and is now the spearhead of India's pace attack.
The latest rankings from the ICC again demonstrate India’s growth in all the formats of the game. Ishan Kishan is still the top batsman in T20I, Shivam Dube is continuing his rise among the best all-rounders, and Jasprit Bumrah still holds the No. 1 Test bowling position. The rankings also show the quality of talent in the Indian team which continues to make international cricket a big deal and keeps India among the best in the world.
