Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah - (Source: AFP)
On Wednesday, December 24, the ICC updated its weekly ranking, and despite no major cricketing action in the past week, several changes were made in the list. Indian players, including Suryakumar Yadav, who had a terrible series, saw a massive slip in places.
In a significant move, Suryakumar Yadav has slipped out of the top 10 in the ICC ranking after a long time. The 35-year-old amassed just 34 runs in four innings, resulting in his ICC rating drop to 660 and rank 13th in the list.
Suryakumar Yadav reached a career-best of 912 in 2023 vs New Zealand and was ranked as the No.1 T20I batter. However, in just two years’ time, the right-handed batter dropped to 13th on the list and his rating drop to 660.
Further, in an interesting move, Varun Chakaravarthy has dropped 14 rating points despite four wickets and is the No.1 T20I bowler with 804 rating points.
Tilak Varma moves up the rank
While SKY struggled for runs, Tilak Varma had a great series and amassed 187 runs in four innings, averaging 62.33 and a strike-rate of 131.69. He has now moved to 3rd on the list, with 805 rating points. He has now displaced Pathum Nissanka, who drops a spot to now rank 4th on the list.
Varma now eyes to go past Phil Salt, who is placed 2nd with 849 rating. If that happens, then he will be only behind Abhishek Sharma.
Bumrah leaves behind Shaheen Afridi
Jasprit Bumrah, who was placed at 28 and missed the 3rd T20I due to personal reasons, returned for the fifth T20I and picked up two wickets in the fifth T20I. With that performance, Bumrah climbed 10 spots to now rank 18th on the list. He has now displaced Shaheen Afridi, who ranks 20th and has dropped a place.
Other noticeable changes in ICC rankings
Australia had a great week as well where Travis Head and Alex Carey’s century helped the hosts claim the Ashes after a win in the 3rd Test. Head has now climbed four spots to rank 3rd on the list. Meanwhile, Alex Carey has entered top 10 and rank 9th on the list.
