In a remarkable surge up the ICC Men’s T20I batting rankings, Indian cricket’s rising star Tilak Varma has leapt 69 positions to claim the No. 3 spot, emerging as India’s highest-ranked T20I batter. The 21-year-old Mumbai Indians prodigy now trails only Australia’s Travis Head and England’s Phil Salt in the global standings.
Tilak Varma surpasses Suryakumar in T20I batter
Tilak Varma’s meteoric rise follows his extraordinary performance in India’s recent T20I series victory against South Africa, where he amassed 280 runs with an impressive strike rate of 198, including 20 sixes across four matches. His outstanding contribution earned him the Player of the Series award in India’s 3-1 triumph.
Former World No. 1 Suryakumar Yadav, who now occupies the fourth position, made a strategic decision to relinquish his No. 3 batting position to Varma. The Indian captain managed just 26 runs in his limited appearances during the series.
Suryakumar on Tilak Verma
“What can I say about Tilak Varma,” Suryakumar reflected after the series. “He came to me, asked me if he could bat at three. I said to him it was his day and to enjoy himself. I knew what he was capable of doing and very happy for him. He is batting at three going forward definitely.”
Indian batters in Top 30 – ICC T20I Rankings
- 3. Tilak Varma – 806 rating points
- 4. Suryakumar Yadav – 788 points
- 8. Yashasvi Jaiswal – 706 points
- 15. Ruturaj Gaikwad – 619 points
- 22. Sanju Samson – 598 points
The rankings update also saw Sanju Samson climb 17 places to reach 22nd position, following his remarkable run of three centuries in his last five T20I innings. This surge in form marks a significant turning point for Samson, who took five years to score his first T20I hundred after his debut.
Other notable Indian batters in the top 30 include Yashasvi Jaiswal at No. 8 (706 points) and Ruturaj Gaikwad at No. 15 (619 points).
In the all-rounders’ category, Hardik Pandya reclaimed the top spot, displacing England’s Liam Livingstone. The series concluded with India posting a massive 283 runs, highlighted by a record-breaking 210-run partnership between Samson and Varma, both of whom scored centuries in the final match.
