Abhishek Sharma, Saim Ayub ICC Ranking After Asia Cup 2025 Final

Introduction

The conclusion of the Asia Cup 2025 Final has brought a significant shake-up in the ICC T20I rankings. Abhishek Sharma, India’s dynamic opener, has reached a career-high to cement his place as the No.1 T20I batter, while Pakistan’s Saim Ayub has surged to the top of the T20I allrounder rankings. Adding to the mix, India’s Varun Chakravarthy continues to dominate as the No.1 T20I bowler, highlighting the subcontinent’s dominance in the shortest format.

Abhishek Sharma Creates History in Batting Rankings

Abhishek Sharma, who only debuted last year, is rewriting records at a lightning pace. The Indian opener amassed 314 runs at an average of 44.85 and a strike-rate of 200 during the Asia Cup 2025, guiding India to the championship and earning the Player of the Tournament award.

Following his match-winning half-century against Sri Lanka in the Super Four, Abhishek climbed to an unprecedented 931 rating points, surpassing Dawid Malan’s previous best of 919 set in 2020. This makes Abhishek the highest-rated T20I batter in ICC history.

Currently, Abhishek enjoys a commanding 82-point lead over England’s Phil Salt, while his teammate Tilak Varma is placed third. This marks the first time two young Indian batters occupy the top three spots in T20I batting rankings.

Saim Ayub Becomes No.1 T20I Allrounder

Pakistan’s Saim Ayub has been rewarded for his all-round contributions in the Asia Cup. Despite a modest tournament with the bat (37 runs in seven innings), Ayub impressed with the ball, taking eight wickets in six matches at an economy rate of just 6.40. His ability to deliver breakthroughs in crunch moments has propelled him up four places to become the No.1 allrounder in ICC T20I rankings.

Ayub dethroned India’s Hardik Pandya, who slipped to No.2, while Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi is now third. Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee and Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza complete the top five.

Varun Chakravarthy Holds on to No.1 Bowling Spot

India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy continues his reign as the world’s best T20I bowler. With seven wickets in the Asia Cup, he retained his position at the top with 803 rating points. His consistency in restricting runs and knack for breakthroughs have made him India’s go-to bowler in crucial moments.

Other notable movements in the bowling charts include Kuldeep Yadav, who climbed nine spots to reach No.12 after bagging 17 wickets in the tournament. Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi jumped 12 places to joint-13th, while Bangladesh’s Rishad Hossain advanced six places to break into the top 20.

Updated ICC T20I Rankings After Asia Cup 2025

T20I Batting Rankings

• 01. Abhishek Sharma (India) – 926 points
• 02. Phil Salt (England) – 844 points
• 03. Tilak Varma (India) – 819 points
• 04. Jos Buttler (England) – 785 points
• 05. Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka) – 779 points

T20I Bowling Rankings

• 01. Varun Chakravarthy (India) – 803 points
• 02. Jacob Duffy (New Zealand) – 717 points
• 03. Adam Zampa (Australia) – 700 points
• 04. Akeal Hosein (West Indies) – 699 points
• 05. Adil Rashid (England) – 689 points

T20I Allrounder Rankings

• 01. Saim Ayub (Pakistan) – 241 points
• 02. Hardik Pandya (India) – 233 points
• 03. Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan) – 231 points
• 04. Dipendra Singh Airee (Nepal) – 214 points
• 05. Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe) – 209 points

Impact on India and Pakistan Cricket

The new ICC T20I rankings underline the dominance of young stars from India and Pakistan. Abhishek Sharma’s record-breaking rise reflects India’s batting depth, while Saim Ayub’s all-round excellence signals Pakistan’s growing talent pool.

For India, having three batters in the top five (Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Suryakumar Yadav close behind) demonstrates the team’s batting firepower. For Pakistan, Ayub’s rise to No.1 is symbolic of their focus on developing versatile players who can contribute in multiple roles.

Conclusion

The ICC rankings update after the Asia Cup 2025 Final has highlighted two young stars who are shaping the future of cricket. Abhishek Sharma has not only retained but extended his lead as the world’s No.1 T20I batter with historic rating points, while Saim Ayub has climbed to the top of the allrounder rankings with his smart bowling performances. Alongside them, Varun Chakravarthy’s No.1 status among bowlers completes a subcontinental sweep at the top of all ICC T20I categories.

As India and Pakistan continue their cricketing rivalry, these rankings add another dimension to the excitement, with young stars from both sides dominating world cricket.