A new wave of players is reshaping the ICC T20I rankings. Fresh faces keep pushing past veteran stars, and the list of the world’s best batters and bowlers looks different from a year ago.
The ICC T20I rankings measure form, consistency, and match impact across international Twenty20 cricket. Fans watch these numbers closely because they show who is playing well right now, not just who carries a big reputation.
This article breaks down the current top 10 in batting, bowling, and all-round performance. It also points out the new stars breaking into the top 10 fastest.
How the ICC T20I Rankings System Works
The International Cricket Council updates player rankings after nearly every T20I series. Ratings run on a points system.
Players earn points based on their own performance. The system also weighs the strength of the opposition and the match conditions.
A strong score against a top side counts for more than the same score against a weaker team. Ratings for batters and bowlers usually sit between zero and the high 800s.
All-rounder ratings sit lower, since they blend two skill sets into one number. Because of this constant updating, the T20I rankings can shift after almost every series.
Top 10 T20I Batters in the Current Rankings
As these rankings stood in early September 2026, the top 10 T20I batters were:
| Rank | Player | Country | Points |
| 1 | Abhishek Sharma | India | 829 |
| 2 | Tilak Varma | India | 804 |
| 3 | Phil Salt | England | 791 |
| 4 | Jos Buttler | England | 772 |
| 5 | Travis Head | Australia | 771 |
| 6 | Suryakumar Yadav | India | 739 |
| 7 | Pathum Nissanka | Sri Lanka | 736 |
| 8 | Tim Seifert | New Zealand | 725 |
| 9 | Tim David | Australia | 676 |
| 10 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | India | 673 |
Abhishek Sharma holds a clear lead at the top. His 25-point gap over second-placed Tilak Varma shows how far ahead he sits right now.
Four Indian batters sit inside this top 10. That kind of depth is rare for any single country in short-format cricket.
New Batting Stars Breaking Into the Top 10
A few names in this batting list were barely known outside domestic cricket a few seasons back. Tilak Varma is the clearest example.
The young left-hander has climbed to second place in the world. Calm finishing and quick running between the wickets built that rise.
Tim Seifert has also arrived as a fresh face near the top. The New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter turned steady form into a top 10 spot.
Tim David brings raw power hitting into the mix. His rise shows how finishers now earn full credit under the rating system.
Yashasvi Jaiswal rounds out the group of newer arrivals. His aggressive opening style has carried over well from longer formats into T20 cricket.
Together, these four represent a changing guard at the top of world batting.
Top 10 T20I Bowlers in the Current Rankings
The bowling charts show an even bigger shake-up. Here is the current top 10:
| Rank | Player | Country | Points |
| 1 | Jacob Duffy | New Zealand | 717 |
| 2 | Adil Rashid | England | 710 |
| 3 | Akeal Hosein | West Indies | 707 |
| 4 | Varun Chakaravarthy | India | 706 |
| 5 | Adam Zampa | Australia | 700 |
| 6 | Wanindu Hasaranga | Sri Lanka | 679 |
| 7 | Ravi Bishnoi | India | 674 |
| 8 | Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | 664 |
| 9 | Nathan Ellis | Australia | 658 |
| 10 | Arshdeep Singh | India | 653 |
Jacob Duffy sits at number one, a spot long held by spin bowlers such as Rashid Khan. This points to a shift toward pace bowlers gaining more respect in T20I cricket.
Three Indian bowlers hold places in this top 10. Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, and Arshdeep Singh span both spin and pace attacks.
New Bowling Stars Making Their Mark
Jacob Duffy is the standout new arrival at the top of the bowling rankings. His control during the death overs, mixed with early movement, has lifted him past longtime leaders.
Akeal Hosein has quietly built one of the best economy rates in the format. His climb to third place reflects steady, unglamorous excellence over many series.
Ravi Bishnoi and Arshdeep Singh represent a younger generation of Indian bowlers. They now hold roles once filled by more senior players.
Bishnoi’s wrist spin and Arshdeep’s left-arm pace give India two very different attacking options. Both sit inside the world’s top 10.
Nathan Ellis has also pushed into this group. He leans on clever pace variations at the back end of an innings.
None of these five held a settled spot among the world’s best a few seasons ago.
All-Rounders Worth Watching
The current top 10 T20I all-rounders are:
| Rank | Player | Country | Points |
| 1 | Hardik Pandya | India | 252 |
| 2 | Dipendra Singh Airee | Nepal | 209 |
| 3 | Mohammad Nabi | Afghanistan | 207 |
| 4 | Roston Chase | West Indies | 196 |
| 5 | Liam Livingstone | England | 196 |
| 6 | Romario Shepherd | West Indies | 193 |
| 7 | Wanindu Hasaranga | Sri Lanka | 192 |
| 8 | Sikandar Raza | Zimbabwe | 189 |
| 9 | Marcus Stoinis | Australia | 179 |
| 10 | Aiden Markram | South Africa | 168 |
Hardik Pandya leads this list with a clear points cushion over the field. The most interesting name here is Dipendra Singh Airee of Nepal.
He plays for an associate nation, yet sits at number two in the world. That places him ahead of established stars from several full-member countries.
His story shows that the rankings reward current performance over reputation or country status. Liam Livingstone and Roston Chase share fourth place, giving England and West Indies a presence near the all-rounder summit.
What This Shift Means for T20 Cricket
The rankings tell a bigger story than names and numbers. Younger players now get chances earlier in domestic and franchise leagues.
That early exposure speeds up their growth once they reach the international game. Pace bowlers are also competing hard with spinners for top spots, something rare a decade ago.
Associate nations are proving a point too. Players like Dipendra Singh Airee show that smaller cricket boards can still produce individual talent to match the biggest names.
For fans, this means the T20I rankings are worth checking every few months, not once a year. The smaller gap between established stars and new arrivals keeps shrinking.
That competition should keep pushing standards higher across every T20I-playing nation.
Key Takeaways
- Batting leader: Abhishek Sharma tops the T20I batting rankings with 829 points.
- Biggest riser in batting: Tilak Varma has reached second place among the world’s batters.
- New bowling number one: Jacob Duffy leads the bowling rankings, breaking years of spin dominance at the top.
- Associate nation success: Dipendra Singh Airee of Nepal ranks second among all-rounders.
- Broader trend: Younger players and pace bowlers are gaining ground across all three ranking tables.
FAQs
Who is currently ranked number one in ICC T20I batting?
Abhishek Sharma of India holds the top spot in the ICC T20I batting rankings.
Which bowler currently tops the ICC T20I bowling rankings?
Jacob Duffy of New Zealand currently leads the ICC T20I bowling rankings.
How often does the ICC update T20I rankings?
The ICC updates T20I rankings after nearly every international T20I series.
Can players from associate nations reach the top of the rankings?
Yes, Dipendra Singh Airee of Nepal ranks second among the world’s T20I all-rounders.
Do T20I rankings only measure runs and wickets?
No, T20I rankings also weigh match conditions and opposition strength alongside raw performance.
Conclusion
The ICC T20I rankings for September 2026 show a format in transition. Familiar names such as Jos Buttler, Rashid Khan, and Sikandar Raza remain in the mix.
New stars breaking into the top 10 are still changing the shape of these lists. Tilak Varma, Jacob Duffy, and Dipendra Singh Airee stand out as the clearest signs of this shift.
As more young players get regular T20I chances, expect the rankings to keep moving. Checking the ICC T20I rankings on a regular basis is now the best way to track who is actually playing the best cricket in the world.






