India became T20I's number one ranking in February 2022 [Source: AFP]From February 2022 to July 2026, Team India was simply the best T20I team in the world, and in that period, the Men in Blue also captured two T20 World titles. However, all good things must come to an end, and their domination ended at the hands of England on Saturday, July 11, when they won the T20I series 4-0.After 1,605 days, India surrendered their T20I top ranking as England displaced them to become the best side in the world. The Harry Brook-led side decimated the Men in Blue to end their domination as India’s wonderful four-year journey ended in defeat.In February 2022, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, India became the number one-ranked T20I team, and interestingly, they dethroned England to achieve the milestone. A lot has changed in Indian cricket since then, and in this article, we take a look at where the Indian players are now who helped the team to clinch the number one ranking.Where are the players who helped India became number 1 in T20Is in 2022?1) Rohit SharmaThe captain under whom India became the number 1 in 2022: Rohit Sharma was pivotal for India’s transformation in the T20I format. Under his guidance, India reached the semis of the 2022 T20 World Cup, and 1.5 years later in 2024, Rohit guided India to their second-ever T20 title.After the 2024 T20 World Cup, Rohit retired from the format, and in 2026, he only plays one format (ODIs), having also retired from Tests in 2025.2) Virat KohliVirat Kohli, Rohit’s teammate, endured a tough period when India became the number one-ranked T20I team in February 2022. He was going through a rough patch with the bat before Kohli became a demon against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2022.He was also a part of India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad, and he became the Player of the Match in the final to seal India’s title win. However, just like Rohit, Kohli, too, retired from T20Is.Currently, he only plays the ODI format, and he also retired from Tests in 2025, as he, and Rohit had a similar career path.3) Ishan KishanIn 2022, Ishan Kishan was in and out of the side as he was still trying to settle in the Indian T20I team. He played 16 matches in 2022, but the southpaw failed to secure his place in the T20 World Cup side. For years, India preferred other keepers in the game’s shortest format before Kishan once again burst onto the scene in 2026.He was picked in the India T20 World Cup 2026 squad, and the batter was pivotal in the team’s title triumph. From being an outcast in 2022 to a starter in 2026, Kishan has become an integral part of the Indian squad.Also Read: When Was The Last Time India Lost Back-To-Back T20I Series?4) Suryakumar YadavCaptain, leader, legend, Suryakumar Yadav has been a combination of the three for the Indian T20I team. 2022 was his year as he scored truckloads of runs and also played a couple of key knocks in the T20 World Cup 2022.1.5 years later, and his catch was crucial in securing India’s victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup. In 2026, he led India to another world title, this time as the team captain. However, he was removed from the captaincy and from the T20I team after the World Cup, as he currently doesn’t play for Team India.5) Rishabh PantJust like Kishan, Rishabh Pant has been in and out of the Indian T20I team. He was considered the future of the team in 2022, but he never fulfilled the dream.Pant was dropped after playing just two matches in the 2022 T20 World Cup, and an accident in December 2022 derailed his journey. He last played a T20I game for India in 2024, and since then, he has only become a regular member of the Test team.6) Venkatesh IyerIn 2022, India were aiming to build Hardik Pandya’s successor, and they found Venkatesh Iyer. He was given a few games to deliver for India, but the promise was never fulfilled as India eventually dropped him from the side.In 2026, the all-rounder plays for Madhya Pradesh and for RCB, where he also became the IPL 2026 champions.7) Deepak ChaharDeepak Chahar had a promising start to his T20 journey, and in February 2022, Chahar was expected to deliver the goods for India in this format. He was given ample chances, but after a string of failures, he was dropped from the T20I team.He last played for India in this format in 2023, and since then, he has been out of the team. Currently, the medium pacer plays for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL.8) Bhuvneshwar KumarBhuvneshwar Kumar played 32 T2OI games for India in 2022, and that was the last year the world witnessed the swing maestro in the Indian jersey.The right-arm pacer had an ordinary T20 World Cup 2022, and by the end of the year, he was axed from the side. In 2026, he has rejuvenated his career and has helped the RCB side win back-to-back IPL titles.9) Harshal PatelHarshal Patel delivered in IPL 2021, and many expected him to be India’s death-overs specialist in 2022. However, despite ample chances, things never worked out for him.In 22 T20 matches in 2022, he only scalped 23 wickets and after some poor performances, Patel only played a solitary game in 2023 before getting the axe from the side. In 2026, he currently plays for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL.10) Yuzvendra ChahalOne of the leading wicket-takers for India in T20Is, Chahal was expected to lead India’s attack in the T20 World Cup 2022, but that never really happened. Moreover, 2023 was the last year that Chahal played for India in T20Is.For the last three years, he has been out of the side, and in 2026, the leg-spinner represents the Punjab Kings in the IPL.Also Read: Way Back To 2014! Throwback To India’s Last T20I Series Defeat Against England11) Ravi BishnoiA promising young spinner in 2022, Ravi Bishnoi started his T20I journey on a high, and even became the number one-ranked T20I bowler for a brief period. However, he was never consistent and was in and out of the team.Recently, in 2026, he made his T2OI comeback for the UK tour, but after a hammering from Jacob Bethell, Bishnoi was once again dropped from the playing XI. Apart from India, he also represents the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.12) Mohammed SirajSince his T20I debut in 2017, Mohammed Siraj has only played 17 games for India. In 2022, he played 4 T20I games, and took seven wickets, but was not picked in the India T20 World Cup squad. He was a part of the title-winning T20 side in 2024, but since then, he has only played a handful of matches.The pacer has only played a solitary T20I game in 2026, and currently, he has been a part of the India ODI and Test teams.13) Shreyas IyerThe captain of the current T20I setup, Shreyas Iyer’s journey has been rough in this format. Despite playing 17 matches for India in 2022, he was not picked for the T20 World Cup 2022 squad. His time was up in 2023, but after two back-to-back stellar IPL seasons (2025, 2026), Iyer was back in the team in 2026.His comeback journey didn’t go as planned, as in his first assignment as the T20I captain, India lost against Ireland and England.14) Kuldeep YadavOne of the best spinners produced by India in recent years, Kuldeep Yadav has always been amongst the wicket-takers, but for some reason, the coaching setup never trusts him. He has been a regular feature in the India side since the 2022 February, and he recently played for India in the T20 World Cup 2026.15) Deepak HoodaOnce touted as Virat Kohli’s replacement in the T20Is, Deepak Hooda’s fall needs to be studied. He even scored a hundred against Ireland in 2022, and the batter was set to become an integral part of the team.He was also a part of the India squad for the T20 World Cup in 2022, but since then, he has not been considered important in the format. As of 2026, Hooda plays in the domestic circuit, and he last featured for CSK in the 2025 season.16) Avesh KhanFor some reason, India always backed Avesh Khan in the game’s shortest format, and by 2022, he was considered an important asset for the Rohit Sharma-led side.However, his performances dipped, and new bowlers emerged as Avesh was eventually sidelined by the team. He last played for India in 2024, and as of 2026, the right-arm bowler plays for the Lucknow Super Giants.17) Ruturaj GaikwadThe CSK star was once touted to replace Rohit Sharma at the top in 2022, but fast forward four years later, and Gaikwad is nowhere near the Indian setup. He has played a T20I game for India in 2024, and has not been able to find a breakthrough.In 2026, he also plays for Maharashtra in the domestic circuit, and for CSK in the IPL.18) Shardul ThakurAnother player who has been used in bits and pieces, Shardul Thakur was a regular in the Test setup and was sporadically used in the T20Is. He only played a solitary T20I match in 2022, and that was his last for India in this format.As of 2026, Shardul represents the Mumbai Indians in the IPL, and also plays for Mumbai in the domestic circuit.Also Read: Harshit Rana's Replacement In India ODI Squad Vs England Announced
