Ishan Kishan has overtaken Abhishek Sharma to become the world No. 1 T20I batter, ending a run that had kept Abhishek at the top for almost 12 months. The change comes before India’s five-match T20I series against England starts on Wednesday at Chester-le-Street in Durham.
Belfast changed the balance
Kishan now leads the ICC T20I batting rankings on 876 points, with Abhishek on 869. Sahibzada Farhan sits third on 848, leaving the new order tightly packed at the top.
The swing was built across India’s two-match series against Ireland in Belfast. Last Friday, Abhishek top-scored for India with 49 off 20 balls in the first T20I. On Sunday, he was dismissed for a first-ball duck in the second T20I, and that single score left him vulnerable when the ratings were updated after the series.
Abhishek Sharma in the ICC
Abhishek had held the No. 1 spot for nearly one year, so the loss is sharp rather than gradual. Kishan’s rise also makes him one of four male players from India to hold the top ranking in T20I batting.
The broader point for India is simple: the opening slot now carries a live ranking battle into the England series. If Abhishek pushes back into form, he has a route to reclaim the position; if he stalls again, Kishan can widen the gap before the next ranking update.
That makes Wednesday in Durham more than a routine start. The batting order is settled for the series, but the top line in the rankings is now open to movement with every innings.
