Dewald Brevis Closes In On Ishan Kishan In Latest T20I Rankings

Brevis eyes Kishan's top spot in ICC rankings [Source: AFP]

The latest ICC rankings are out, and Ishan Kishan’s top spot in the T20I batting rankings hangs in jeopardy as South Africa’s Dewald Brevis closes in on him. The Proteas batter has been excellent in the ongoing Namibia T20I tri-series, and it has helped him gain momentum in the rankings.

While Ishan Kishan remains the number one-ranked T20I batter in the ICC ratings, Brevis is not far behind, as the South African star gets closer to dethroning the Indian batter.

Brevis witnesses huge jump in ICC T20I rankings

Before the tri-nation series between South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, Brevis was ranked 10th in the T20I rankings; however, three consecutive stellar performances have helped the hard-hitting batter climb six places.

The right-handed batter now sits in the fourth position with 806 rating points. A couple of more solid performances would help the South African player climb the ladder as he chases Kishan, who has 910 rating points.

In the ongoing tri-series, Brevis has racked up 191 runs in three games, with an astonishing strike rate of 175.23 and an average of 95.50. Moreover, his scores in the tournament read: 75, 75*, and 41, as bowlers have failed to contain him in the series.

How Brevis can topple Ishan Kishan in the ICC rankings?

In the ongoing tournament, South Africa still has to play a league stage game, and they already have one foot in the finals. So, Brevis still has a chance to play two games in the competition, and he has a chance to continue his golden run with match-winning performances in the next two contests.

Ishan Kishan, on the other hand, will play in the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, starting September 13. 

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If the Indian keeper-batter fails in all three matches against the Afghans, and Brevis delivers the goods in the remaining two matches, then, in such a scenario, the Proteas batter will have a realistic chance of toppling Kishan at the top.

Other notable changes in the ICC rankings

Apart from Brevis, the other notable change in the ICC rankings has been the rise of English pacer Ollie Robinson. In the ongoing Test series between Pakistan and England, Robinson has been the best English bowler, scalping 16 wickets with an average of 7.19.

Thus, the right-arm seamer has been rewarded with a jump in the latest ICC Test bowling rankings. He has climbed six places to achieve the number 5 ranking, marking a return to the top five for the first time since July 2023.

Robinson further has a chance to strengthen his ranking as England will take on Pakistan in the third Test match of the series, starting September 9.

Apart from Robinson, there has also been a change in ranking for an Indian star. Tilak Varma, whose performances have fluctuated, has lost a place in the ICC T20I rankings.

Tilak was sixth in the T20I batting rankings, but the Indian southpaw has slipped one place to seventh in the points tally, with 750 rating points. He certainly has a chance to climb the ladder if he performs against Afghanistan.

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