KL Rahul takes a big leap in ICC T20 rankings; reaches to third spot with 900 points

Dubai, July 10: Taking a big leap in the latest MRF Tyres ICC T20I players rankings for batsmen, India’s KL Rahul has reached to a career-high third spot with 900 points. While Australia opener Aaron Finch became the top-ranked batsman in the shortest format of the game. 

Rahul's scores of 70, 101 not out, six and 19 have made him India's highest-ranked batsman. Rohit Sharma in 11th rank (up by two places) and captain Virat Kohli in 12th rank (down by four places) are the next highest-ranked India batsmen.

On the other side, Australian opener Aaron Finch became the first player in the history of T20 Internationals to break the 900-point mark as he moved up three places to finish the tri-series in Harare against Pakistan and Zimbabwe as the top-ranked batsman in the shortest format of the game.

The injured Babar Azam, Colin Munro and Glenn Maxwell all moved down, occupying the three spots below Finch, Zaman and Rahul, while further down on the list, there were more such interesting changes.

D’Arcy Short, Finch’s opening partner, had an up-and-down run in Zimbabwe, but scores of 46 and 76 – in the final – during the course of the tournament helped him jump 18 places to No.10. It’s a career-best number for him, his first time in the Top 10, with 690 points, also a career high.

Among others ending the England v India series with career-best points were Jason Roy (up 19 spots to No.15 with 641 points) and Jos Buttler (up nine spots to No.17 with 614 points), but perhaps the most breath-taking rise has been that of Zimbabwe opener Solomon Mire.

Mire started the tri-series with a big reputation but not much in terms of numbers in T20I cricket, but almost single-handedly kept Zimbabwe hoping for a spot in the final with two magnificent innings.

He started slowly with 27 and 28 in the first two games but then slammed 94 – Zimbabwe’s best in the format – and 63 in the last two to rise an incredible 202 places in the rankings. He ended with a career-best 581 points and the 25th place on the table.

However, Pakistan has retained the top position in team rankings with their tri-series victory while India has overtaken Australia to take second place after clinching their three-match series against England 2-1.