Key facts
- Ishan Kishan is now world No. 1 in ICC T20I batting rankings
- He displaces fellow Indian Abhishek Sharma from the top spot
- Two Indians now occupy the pinnacle of T20I batting rankings
Ishan Kishan has stormed to the top of the ICC T20I batting rankings, displacing Abhishek Sharma to become the world's number-one ranked batter in the format — a striking statement of his return to form at the international level.
The development marks a significant personal milestone for Kishan, whose international career had stalled after he was dropped from the Indian setup following a period of controversy over his non-availability. His climb to the summit of the global rankings signals that his bat has done the talking on his return to competitive cricket.
Equally notable is that Abhishek Sharma, who Kishan displaces, is also an Indian. The two openers sitting at the very top of the ICC T20I batting charts reflects the extraordinary depth and quality of India's batting resources in the format, with selectors spoiled for choice at the top of the order.
The ICC rankings update comes at a timely moment as India are preparing for their T20I series against England. Kishan's ascent to world number one will only add to the selection debates and the pressure on the team management to field their best possible combination.