Bangladesh quartet climbs T20I rankings after New Zealand series; Abhishek holds top spot
Synopsis
Bangladesh's quartet made waves in the latest ICC T20I rankings following their mixed series against New Zealand, with Shoriful Islam's nine-place jump to 54th standing out. Yet the rankings reveal a deeper story: Abhishek Sharma's grip on the number-one batting spot remains unchallenged despite two months of inactivity, while Ish Sodhi's ascent to New Zealand's all-time T20I wicket-taker signals a generational shift in the format's bowling landscape.
Key Takeaways
Towhid Hridoy (Bangladesh) climbed two spots to 37th in T20I batting after scoring 84 runs and earning Player of the Series honours.
Shoriful Islam made the biggest jump, rising nine places to 54th in T20I bowlers' rankings.
Abhishek Sharma (India) retains the number one T20I batting ranking despite not playing international cricket since 9 March .
Ish Sodhi (New Zealand) became his country's highest T20I wicket-taker with 165 wickets , surpassing Tim Southee's record of 164 .
In ODI rankings, Shakeel Ahmed (Oman) rose nine places to 31st in bowlers' chart; Dipendra Singh Airee (Nepal) jumped 12 places to 31st among all-rounders.
Dubai, May 6 — Bangladesh players Towhid Hridoy, captain Litton Das, and bowlers Mahedi Hasan and Shoriful Islam have improved their positions in the latest ICC T20I Player Rankings following strong performances against New Zealand in a three-match T20I series played at home. The series concluded 1-1, with one match abandoned, yet several players delivered standout displays that moved them up the rankings ladder.
Bangladesh's gains
Hridoy, named Player of the Series, climbed two spots to 37th place among T20I batters after accumulating 84 runs across two innings. Captain Litton Das also registered modest progress, rising one place following a 26-run contribution in the final match at Mirpur. On the bowling front, Mahedi Hasan advanced one position to 17th, while Shoriful Islam made a more dramatic leap, jumping nine places to reach 54th in the bowlers' chart.
Abhishek's unshaken dominance
India's Abhishek Sharma continues to occupy the number one ranking in T20I batting despite not playing international cricket since 9 March. Ishan Kishan trails in second place, separated by a four-point margin. Pakistan's SahibZada Farhan holds third position, 23 points behind Kishan, underscoring the competitive nature of the top tier.
New Zealand's standouts
Ben Sears made significant strides, climbing 10 spots to 51st among bowlers. Ish Sodhi ascended four places to joint 88th and etched his name in New Zealand cricket history by becoming the country's highest wicket-taker in T20Is. Sodhi surpassed Tim Southee's previous record of 164 wickets, reaching 165 wickets in the format.
ODI shifts from tri-series
The tri-series involving Nepal, Oman, and the UAE also triggered movement in ODI rankings. Oman's Jatinder Singh climbed seven places to joint 65th among ODI batters, while his teammate Shakeel Ahmed surged nine spots to 31st in the bowlers' standings, emerging as one of the tournament's biggest movers. Nepal's Dipendra Singh Airee jumped 12 places to reach 31st among ODI all-rounders, capping a productive period for the Himalayan nation's cricketers.
Point of View
Bangladesh's incremental progress — Shoriful's nine-place jump is solid, but in a format where rankings churn monthly, it signals consolidation rather than breakthrough. Second, and more intriguing, is Abhishek Sharma's immunity: he's held the number-one spot for months without playing, a testament to the weight of his earlier performances but also a question mark about how long such dormancy can sustain elite ranking. Meanwhile, Ish Sodhi's ascent to New Zealand's all-time T20I wicket-taker is generational, yet it came amid a drawn series — a reminder that individual milestones and team results don't always align in modern cricket.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who improved the most in the latest ICC T20I rankings?
Bangladesh's Shoriful Islam made the biggest jump, rising nine places to 54th in the bowlers' rankings after the New Zealand series. Towhid Hridoy also climbed two spots to 37th in batting after being named Player of the Series .
Why is Abhishek Sharma still ranked number one in T20I batting?
Abhishek Sharma (India) continues to hold the number one T20I batting ranking despite not playing international cricket since 9 March . His previous performances earned him enough rating points to maintain the top spot despite his recent inactivity.
How many T20I wickets does Ish Sodhi have?
Ish Sodhi (New Zealand) has 165 T20I wickets , making him the highest wicket-taker for New Zealand in the format. He surpassed Tim Southee's previous record of 164 wickets .
Which teams participated in the ODI tri-series that affected rankings?
The ODI tri-series involved Nepal , Oman , and the UAE . Players from all three nations saw movement in the ODI rankings, with Shakeel Ahmed (Oman) and Dipendra Singh Airee (Nepal) among the biggest movers.
What was the result of the Bangladesh vs New Zealand T20I series?
The three-match T20I series between Bangladesh and New Zealand ended 1-1 , with one match abandoned due to weather. Despite the drawn result, several players from both sides improved their ICC rankings.
