NEW DELHI: The 23-year-old Indian leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi on Wednesday has surged to the number one position in the ICC T20 International bowling chart.
This remarkable feat comes on the heels of his standout performance and 'Player of the Series' accolade in the recently concluded series against Australia.
Spinners dominate bowlers' rankings
Bishnoi emerged as India's go-to bowler throughout the five-game series, where he clinched an impressive nine wickets. With a current rating of 699 points, Bishnoi has catapulted five places to displace Afghanistan's spin maestro Rashid Khan (692) from the coveted top slot.Sharing the third position on the chart are Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga and England's Adil Rashid, both boasting 679 points. Sri Lanka's Maheesh Theekshana (677) completes the top five.
Ravi Bishnoi, lone Indian in Top 10
In a noteworthy statistic, Bishnoi stands as the sole Indian bowler in the top 10 of the ICC T20I bowling rankings. Axar Patel has also seen a commendable rise, climbing nine spots to secure the 18th position.
Surya remains No.1 batter
Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav, the swashbuckling batter who captained India to a resounding 4-1 T20I series victory against Australia, retains his position at the summit among the batters.
However, opener Ruturaj Gaikwad has slipped to the seventh spot.
1/6:An audition for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024
<p>Though the recently-concluded T20I series between India and Australia lacked star power, with several seniors like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell Starc, David Warner giving it a miss, the bilateral series proved to be of great value for several fringe players, serving as an audition for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 to be held in West Indies and USA next year. Here are some players who can make the squad of their respective teams for the marquee event in T20I cricket. (Getty Images)<br /></p>
2/6:Ravi Bishnoi (India)
<p>Bishnoi was a standout performer for India, taking a total of nine wickets in five matches, three more than any other player at an economy rate of just 8.20. His performances earned him the 'Player of the Series' award. He could be battling the likes of Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin for a couple of slow bowling slots, but Ravi has showcased his capability enough in 21 T20Is played so far, taking a total of 34 wickets at an average of 17.38 and an economy rate of just above seven. (ANI Photo)<br /></p>
3/6:Jason Behrendorff (Australia)
<p>Behrendorff has struggled for a regular place in the side due to the presence of big three pacers, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. But during this series, he put his name out for selection in a big tournament once again. He claimed six wickets in four matches, with his best figures coming in the fourth T20I - 2/32. The most impressive trait of Behrendorff's bowling this series was his miserly economy rate of just 6.68, the best among all Australian bowlers. (PTI Photo)<br /></p>
4/6:Rinku Singh (India)
<p>Rinku's 105 runs in the series of five matches do not have a lot of impact on face value, but the ones following the matches know the real impact of the rising left-hander as a finisher. His strike rate was an impressive 175, more than any other batter. His fours and sixes in the final few overs proved to be extremely useful for India and gave them an extra 15-20 runs to fight a competitive Aussie side. Rinku will be looked on by selectors as they continue their search for a finisher. (PTI Photo)<br /></p>
5/6:Tanveer Sangha (Australia)
<p>The young Australian spinner Sangha played in all five matches in the series, taking five wickets overall, the finest of which came in the fourth game of the series, taking 2/30. During the series, just two of Australia's wicket-takers bowled at a more economical economy rate. Sangha appears to be the most sensible option to travel as a backup for the T20 World Cup, even if he is probably going to be behind first-choice spinner Adam Zampa. (Getty Images)<br /></p>
6/6:Ruturaj Gaikwad (India)
<p>Gaikwad never fails to impress when allowed to play on the international stage. The right-hander scored an incredible 123* in the series' third encounter, and his 223 runs overall -- by far the most of any player over the five matches -- made him India's lone century-maker during the series. Should selectors choose, Gaikwad could easily partner captain Rohit Sharma at the top of India's batting order at the T20 World Cup. (AP Photo)<br /></p>Hardik Pandya, top all-rounder
In the all-rounders' category, Hardik Pandya maintains his stronghold, holding onto the third position.
This is despite Pandya missing the series against Australia due to injury, underscoring his consistent prowess in the format.
Bright Future: The rise of Bishnoi to the zenith of the ICC T20I bowling rankings signals a promising future for Indian cricket, with the team showcasing depth and talent across various disciplines.
(With inputs from PTI)
