ICC T20 Rankings – Race for World No 1 T20 Batsman: Babar Azam vs SuryaKumar Yadav – It’s not Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav is threatening Babar Azam’s domination. The dashing Indian batsman has reached a career-high ranking of World No 2 and is only two points behind Babar Azam at the moment in Race for World No 1 T20 batsman after his 44-ball 76 against West Indies. Follow IND vs WI LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Suryakumar Yadav has been in fine form for India during their ongoing T20I series against West Indies and the 31-year-old’s latest exploits with the bat has seen him rewarded on the latest rankings update. As per latest T20I rankings, Suryakumar is the only batsman in Top 10 of ICC T20 Rankings. He will have the opportunity to become World No 1 this weekend against West Indies. A 30+ score will dethrone Babar Azam.
ICC T20 Rankings: Suryakumar Yadav India’s best T20 batsman, World No 2 to close in on Babar Azam for World No 1 SPOT: Check Full Rankings
ICC T20 Rankings: Suryakumar Yadav India’s best T20 batsman, World No 2 to close in on Babar Azam for World No 1 SPOT: Check Full Rankings
The ICC released their weekly update of the rankings on Wednesday and Yadav surged up three spots to second overall on the T20I list for batters, with Babar now just two rating points ahead of the in-form right-hander.
Yadav only made his international debut at the start of last year and his rapid recent rise has come on the back of a century against England in Nottingham last month and a stylish half-century against West Indies on Tuesday.
Promoted up the order to open the batting alongside skipper Rohit Sharma for the first time during this tour of the Caribbean, Yadav has been a shining light for India and his 111 runs at a strike rate in excess of 168 through the first three matches of the series has helped the Asian country claim a 2-1 series lead.
It’s also boosted Yadav’s chances of making the trip to Australia for the ICC T20 World Cup later this year and if he can overtake Babar and claim the No.1 T20I ranking then his case will almost be insurmountable.
And Yadav is likely to get the chance to overtake Babar at the head of proceedings over the coming week, with India still having two more games against West Indies remaining in their five-match series.
Should Yadav score well in those matches then he may usurp Babar as the No.1 ranked batter, given Pakistan’s next T20I contest is at the end of the month against India at the Asia Cup.
Pakistan veteran Mohammad Rizwan (third), South Africa’s Aiden Markram (fourth) and England left-hander Dawid Malan (fifth) all dropped a place due to Yadav’s jump, while there were a host of other batters that made giant strides on the latest rankings update.
ICC T20 Rankings: Suryakumar Yadav India’s best T20 batsman, World No 2 to close in on Babar Azam for World No 1 SPOT: Check Full Rankings
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