![Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan and Abhishek Sharma [Source: X]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1772010168077_saimayubsahibzadafarhanabhisheksharma.jpg?type=hq)
Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan and Abhishek Sharma [Source: X]
In a significant development, the ICC released the updated T20I rankings amid the T20 World Cup 2026. While Pakistan's Saim Ayub slipped to the second position in the ICC T20I rankings for all-rounders, his opening partner Sahibzada Farhan earned crucial rating points, narrowing the gap with India's Abhishek Sharma, the top-ranked batter in the format.
Despite a persistent lean patch in the T20 World Cup 2026, Abhishek Sharma managed to retain the first position in the ICC T20I batters' rankings. However, Saim Ayub's poor run in the tournament hampered his rating points, with Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza becoming the new number-one-ranked T20I all-rounder.
Sahibzada Farhan threatens Abhishek Sharma's position
Pakistan batting sensation Sahibzada Farhan has truly set the T20 World Cup on fire with a string of remarkable performances. After playing a crucial cameo against the Netherlands, Farhan went on to smash a blistering century against Namibia and eventually followed it up with another power-packed innings in the Pakistan Vs England match.
The swashbuckling right-hander's phenomenal returns helped him achieve his career-best rating points, 810, and move two places up to the third position on the batters' chart. He is not far behind the top-ranked Abhishek Sharma, who has disappointed India with abysmal batting performances in the T20 World Cup.
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Statistically, Abhishek has struck only 15 runs, including three ducks, in the tournament. So, given that Sahibzada Farhan is in red-hot form, the Pakistan opener has a golden opportunity to dethrone Abhishek Sharma and claim the top spot.
Babar Azam, Saim Ayub demoted; Shivam Dube moves up
Apart from losing the number-one all-rounder's spot to Sikandar Raza, Saim Ayub also witnessed a drastic downfall in the batters' rankings. The southpaw, who has managed only 70 runs at a miserable average of 14 in the T20 World Cup, moved three spots down to the 34th position.
Meanwhile, talismanic Pakistan cricketer Babar Azam also served a demotion amid his struggles in the showpiece event. The Lahore-born batter, who has scored only 91 runs, averaging 22.75, moved one place down to 36th on the batters' list.
On the contrary, his T20 World Cup heroics led to Shivam Dube's promotion in the ICC rankings. The Indian all-rounder, who has hammered 158 runs at a blistering strike rate of 154.90, jumped 13 places up to 28th in the batters' rankings.
Other notable developments in ICC T20I rankings
Among others, South Africa's destructive batter Dewald Brevis climbed ten places to enter the top-ten of the T20I batting rankings. Ishan Kishan finished the week as the fifth-ranked T20I batter, making a notable progress of three positions amid his fireworks in the T20 World Cup.
Corbin Bosch is among of the significant gainers in the bowlers' list led by Varun Chakaravarthy, having moved 21 places up to the third position. Matthew Forde, who has bagged six wickets in four T20 World Cup matches, has taken a giant leap, finishing the week as the seventh-ranked bowler in the shortest format.
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