Saim Ayub rises to the top in ICC T20I all-rounder rankings
Pakistan’s Saim Ayub has officially been named the No. 1 all-rounder in the latest ICC Men’s T20I rankings, overtaking India’s Hardik Pandya following a strong showing in the recently concluded Asia Cup 2025. The updated rankings, released Wednesday by the International Cricket Council (ICC), reflect Ayub’s emergence as a dual-threat contributor with both ball and bat — despite a tournament where his batting returns were modest.
The 23-year-old moved up four places in the all-rounder rankings after taking eight wickets in seven matches, a performance that proved crucial in Pakistan’s journey to the Asia Cup final. He now tops the list with 241 rating points, ahead of Pandya (233) and Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi (231).
Ayub’s bowling impact outweighs quiet batting performance
Although Ayub struggled with the bat — managing just 37 runs in the tournament, including four ducks — his contributions with the ball more than compensated. In a team often searching for balance, Ayub’s effectiveness as a bowling option gives Pakistan valuable tactical flexibility heading into a packed international schedule.
His rise is even more significant considering that Hardik Pandya, long a fixture at the top of the rankings, missed the Asia Cup final due to fitness concerns. Ayub’s consistency with the ball allowed him to close the gap and ultimately leapfrog the Indian star to claim the No. 1 spot.
Pakistan also saw movement in the all-rounder rankings for other players, with Mohammad Nawaz rising to 13th and Faheem Ashraf climbing to 35th, adding further depth to the team’s pool of multi-skilled cricketers.
Abhishek Sharma leads T20I batting list with record number of points
India’s Abhishek Sharma now leads the ICC T20I batting rankings with a record-setting 931 rating points — the highest ever recorded in the format, surpassing David Malan’s previous best of 919 from 2020.
Varun Chakaravarthy continues to lead bowling list
India’s Varun Chakaravarthy retained the top spot in the ICC T20I bowling rankings with 803 rating points, followed by Jacob Duffy (717) and Adam Zampa (700).
