Indian batters Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma have retained the top two positions in the latest ICC Men’s T20I Batting Rankings, despite India’s disappointing performances during the T20I tours of Ireland and England.

Ishan continues to lead the rankings with 897 rating points, while Abhishek remains second with 881 points. During the tour, Ishan scored 1, 12, 0, 49, and 13, while Abhishek registered scores of 49, 0, 59, 43, and 10.

Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan occupies the third position, followed by England’s Phil Salt in fourth and Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka in fifth. India’s Tilak Varma is ranked sixth, while England captain Jos Buttler is seventh.

India captain Shreyas Iyer made significant progress in the rankings after scoring 68 runs in the rain-abandoned first T20I and 37 runs in the second match. He climbed 425 places to reach 93rd in the batting rankings.

England players, meanwhile, were rewarded for their impressive performances after winning two consecutive T20Is against India. Young batter Jacob Bethell, who played a match-winning unbeaten knock of 76 in the second T20I, moved up seven places to eighth in the batting rankings.

England all-rounder Sam Curran also enjoyed major gains. He climbed 12 places to 108th in the batting rankings and moved up 12 spots to 71st among bowlers. In the ICC T20I all-rounder rankings, Curran advanced six places to 13th.

Veteran England leg-spinner Adil Rashid, who claimed two wickets in England’s record 125-run victory in the third T20I, climbed to third in the ICC T20I bowling rankings.

Another England all-rounder, Will Jacks, also improved his standing by moving up six places to seventh in the ICC T20I all-rounder rankings, reflecting England’s dominant run in the recently concluded series.

Suryakumar Yadav Reverses Stance: Left-Right Combination No Longer ‘Overrated’ for Team India

OdishaConnect — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 09:00:29 +0000

A month after dismissing the left-right batting combination as overrated, Team India T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav has signaled a pragmatic shift in approach ahead of the five-match T20I series against New Zealand starting today. The move emphasizes flexibility and performance over rigid adherence to pre-set strategies.

From Dismissal to Acceptance: A Strategic U-Turn

During the T20 World Cup 2026 squad announcement in December, Suryakumar and head coach Gautam Gambhir had downplayed the importance of a left-right combination. Tilak Varma was assigned the No. 3 spot, with Suryakumar at No. 4, disregarding conventional batting balance strategies.

However, with Tilak currently sidelined due to injury, Suryakumar has indicated he will now step into the No. 4 position, while left-hander Ishan Kishan fills in at No. 3—a like-for-like replacement that effectively restores a left-right dynamic in the middle order.

Flexibility Over Fixed Roles

In a pre-match press conference, Suryakumar emphasized the importance of adaptability. “My statistics are good at number 3 and a little better at number 4. We wish to keep limber—when a right-hand man is out, I will replace him; otherwise, the left-hand man will,” he explained.

This approach allows India to maintain continuity in the batting order while adjusting to injuries and match conditions, rather than relying strictly on pre-planned combinations.

Maintaining Top-Order Balance

India’s top-order balance remains anchored by the opening pair of right-hander Sanju Samson and left-hander Abhishek Sharma. By slotting Kishan at No. 3, the team ensures stability and leverages his domestic performance and World Cup experience, while Shreyas Iyer remains a secondary option for the middle order.

Tactical Realism Ahead of T20 World Cup

Critics have suggested that this adjustment may reflect tactical realism in response to a temporary lean patch for Suryakumar himself. Nevertheless, the captain insists that a flexible approach allows the team to adapt to on-field situations, optimize matchups, and strengthen India’s chances in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Nagpur Opener Highlights Batting Possibilities

The opener in Nagpur has presented intriguing possibilities for matchups and has underscored the complexities of India’s batting lineup. With the left-right combination back in focus, the team seeks to combine strategic planning with the adaptability required for modern T20 cricket.

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