Abhishek Sharma skyrockets to world number 2, Varun Chakaravarthy closes in on top position in T20I rankings

ICC's T20I rankings: Abhishek Sharma skyrockets to world number 2 spot.

ICC's T20I rankings: India youngster Abhishek Sharma leapfrogged 38 places in the latest ICC Men's T20I Player Rankings as he is now second in the list released on Wednesday (February 5). Tilak Varma who's been performing brilliantly as well has dropped down to third place. Abhishek scored a sensational hundred in Mumbai in the fifth and final T20I against England helping India win the series 4-1. It is till date the best innings of his international career so far in which he smashed a quick-fore 135.

The left-handed opener finished his knock with 13 sixes and it was the highest score by an Indian men's player in the shortest format of the game. The 24-year-old is second in the latest ranking courtesy his tremendous innings.

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Australia's star batter Travis Head is still the number one batter of the format but Abhishek is just 26 rating points behind him after his record-breaking display at the iconic Wankhede Stadium.

India's T20I captain Surykumar Yadav sits fifth in the list while teammates Hardik Pandya (up five rungs to equal 51st) and Shivam Dube (up 38 spots to 58th) also moved up the rankings chart following some good scores against England.

Varun Chakravarthy moves up in rankings

Mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy displayed some tremendous bowling skills in the series England which has helped him gain three places to joint second with England spinner Adil Rashid. Chakravarthy picked up 14 wickets against England and was also awarded the player-of-the-series.

Another India spinner has moved up four places to number six. Ravi Bishnoi took five scalps in the England series and fast-bowler Arshdeep Singh is not in the ninth position.

West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein has reclaimed the No.1 spot in the bowling rankings, just a week after losing it to Rashid Khan.

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Several Australian players made significant gains in the latest Test rankings following their dominant innings-and-242-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle. Stand-in captain Steve Smith climbed three places to fifth after scoring his 35th Test century, while opener Usman Khawaja surged six spots to 11th with his career-best knock of 232.

In the Test batting rankings, Yashasvi Jaiswal retained his fourth position. England’s Joe Root continues to lead the list, followed by Harry Brook and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson.

On the bowling front, India's Jasprit Bumrah, who is recovering from a back spasm, remains at the top. He was recently honored as the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year and ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year. Fellow Indian left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja is ranked ninth.

South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada moved up to second place, while Australia’s Pat Cummins holds third, followed by Josh Hazlewood and Pakistan’s Noman Ali.

Among Australia’s bowlers, veteran spinner Nathan Lyon climbed two spots to sixth overall, and pacer Mitchell Starc advanced two places to 12th after their performances in Galle.