Suryakumar Yadav leapfrogs Babar to third spot in T20 rankings
The Hindu
Yadav impressed with a classy 46 during India’s four-wicket loss to Australia in the opening match of their three-game series
India’s Suryakumar Yadav has replaced Pakistan captain Babar Azam to occupy the third spot in the T20I batter’s list in the latest ICC Men’s Player Rankings issued on Wednesday.
Yadav impressed with a classy 46 during India’s four-wicket loss to Australia in the opening match of their three-game series at Mohali on Tuesday. The knock helped him to close in on Pakistan opener Mohammad Rizwan at the top of the T20I batter’s chart.
The right-hander dethroned Babar from the third spot, with Rizwan now just 45 rating points ahead of of him.
Rizwan hit a half-century in Pakistan’s loss to England in Karachi on Tuesday and maintains a narrow advantage at the top of the rankings with a career-high total of 825 rating points.
South Africa’s Aiden Markram (792 rating points) is in the second position ahead of Yadav (780).
Babar dropped to fourth in the latest rankings following his below par Asia Cup and a 31 against England in the series opener. England’s Dawid Malan (725) and Australia skipper Aaron Finch (715) complete the top 6.
Besides Yadav, star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya jumped 22 places to 65th overall following his superb 71 not out against Australia, while team-mate Axar Patel shot up 24 spots to 33rd in the list for bowlers after he collected three wickets on Tuesday.
Daniel Quizon is the latest to join the band of leaders. The Philippines player beat Russian Artion Stribuk on the third board in the ninth round at the Gift City Club on Tuesday. The four overnight leaders – Kazybek Nogerbek of Kazakhstan, Russia’s Rudik Makarian, Mamikon Gharibyan of Armenia, and Colombia’s Jose Gabriel Cardoso – were featured in the drawn games on the top two boards.
On the seam-friendly pitches at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, Axar Patel’s left-arm spin plays second fiddle to the pacers. Axar, however, has added great value as a batter. The southpaw, promoted to No. 4 in the Pakistan outing on Sunday, held the Indian innings together with an 18-ball 20.