Suryakumar climbs to 2nd in T20I rankings

Dubai, Sep 28 (Agency) India batter Suryakumar Yadav moved up a slot to take the second position in the ICC Men’s T20I player rankings released on Wednesday. Yadav is up to a career-best-equaling second position with 801 rating points after a match-winning 69 off 36 deliveries against Australia in Hyderabad that helped clinch the series 2-1. Pakistan captain Babar Azam too climbed a spot and is placed third positions in the latest weekly rankings.Babar, who had occupied the No.1 position for 1,155 days before being overtaken by team-mate Mohammad Rizwan early this month, was named Player of the Match for an unbeaten 110 in the second T20I of their ongoing seven-match series against Australia and followed it up with scores of eight and 36 in the third and fourth matches.

India captain Rohit Sharma has inched up one place to 13th position after scores of 46 not out and 17 while Matthew Wade (up six places to 62nd), Cameron Green (up 31 places to 67th) and Tim David (up 202 places to 109th) are the Australia players to move up the rankings.India spinners Axar Patel (up from 33rd to 18th) and Yuzvendra Chahal (up from 28th to 26th) have moved up the bowlers’ list, which continued to be led by Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood.In the all-rounders’ charts, India’s Hardik Pandya has also broken into the top four, after his impressive showings in the home series against Australia. Pandya notched up scores of nine and unbeaten 25 in the last two T20Is against Australia, while also chipping in with some handy overs. He is now joint on the fourth spot along with Sri Lanka all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga. With plenty of T20Is coming up as teams gear up their preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia, starting in October, there is sure lot of movement as players jostle for positions in the rankings charts.