SKY remains in top spot in T20 ranking

Star India batter Suryakumar Yadav consolidated his position at the top of the ICC Men’s T20I Batter Rankings after being rewarded for his quickfire half-century against South Africa in the second T20I in Gqeberha, South Africa. The attacking right-hander gained a total of 10 rating points after smashing 56 from just 36 deliveries even though India fell short in the exciting clash by five wickets. Suryakumar now has a total of 865 rating points, which is well clear of his nearest rivals — Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan (787 rating points) and South Africa’s Aiden Markram (758) — with less than six months out from the start of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Suryakumar famously claimed the premier ranking during the most recent edition of the T20 World Cup in Australia towards the end of last year and, on current form, it appears the India batter is likely to hold that position into next year’s tournament in the West Indies and USA. South Africa opener Reeza Hendricks is one player to make ground on Suryakumar after he moved up one place to eighth following his innings of 49 against India, while Tilak Varma (up 10 spots to 55th) and Rinku Singh (up 46 places to equal 59th) also gained places. With newly-crowned No.1 T20I bowler Ravi Bishnoi missing selection on the tour of South Africa so far, it has paved the way for Afghanistan ace Rashid Khan to join the India young gun at the top of the rankings for T20I bowlers. @@@