One big innings can change a player’s standing in world cricket overnight, and the latest ICC rankings update shows exactly that. Shreyas Iyer has jumped 18 places to a career-best seventh in the ICC T20I batting rankings after his unbeaten century against West Indies, while Shubman Gill has held on to the top spot in the ODI batting list after a monumental 223 not out. With four Indians in the T20I top ten and a new world number one among the bowlers, there is plenty to unpack. Here is the full breakdown of the ICC T20I rankings and ODI rankings, and what the movement tells us about Indian cricket right now.
Shreyas Iyer Climbs to Career-Best Seventh in T20Is
The headline mover in the latest ICC update, released on October 7, is Shreyas Iyer. He rose 18 places to seventh in the T20I batting rankings, the best position of his career, following his maiden T20I century. Iyer scored an unbeaten 102 off 43 balls, including 10 fours and six sixes, as India beat West Indies by eight wickets in the first T20I of the series in Lucknow. That innings came at a strike rate of 237.20.
His new position makes him India’s third-highest-ranked T20I batter. It also means India have four batters inside the top ten of the format, a measure of the depth in the current squad. Ishan Kishan sits at number one and Abhishek Sharma is second, while Tilak Varma holds tenth place.
Why the Jump Is So Big
An 18-place leap is unusual for a player already inside the top 30, and it reflects how the rating system works. Rankings are based on a rolling assessment of performances, with more weight given to recent matches and to the quality of the opposition and the match situation. A century at that scoring rate, in a winning chase, delivers a large rating boost in one go. Iyer’s rise is a reminder of how quickly a few outstanding innings can shift the table in T20 cricket.
Iyer also captained India in the second T20I in Ranchi, where he made a quick 40 off 18 balls, though that match took place after the rankings update was published and is not reflected in these numbers.
Other Movers in the T20I Batting List
Several other players made notable moves. West Indies batter Sherfane Rutherford rose 10 places to 37th after scoring 56. Young Indian opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi moved up eight places to 46th. And Pakistan’s Hasan Nawaz made the biggest jump of all, climbing 62 places to 48th.
The top of the list is dominated by Indian names, which says a lot about the format’s current balance of power. With Kishan and Abhishek Sharma at one and two, and Iyer and Tilak Varma also in the top ten, India’s batting group has strength in numbers that few teams can match.
T20I Bowling: Rashid Khan Back on Top
On the bowling side, Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan has returned to the number one spot, according to the ICC, in what is his eighth spell at the top of the list. He displaces Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed, who loses the top ranking.
India’s Axar Patel was among the biggest gainers, up 16 places to seventh after taking two wickets in each of three matches. Bangladesh’s Nasum Ahmed went up three places to eighth, Mahedi Hasan climbed 10 places to ninth, Sri Lanka’s Nuwan Thushara rose 18 places to 48th, and Saim Ayub moved up eight places to 62nd.
ODI Rankings: Gill Stays No. 1 After 223 Not Out
In the ODI batting list, Shubman Gill remains at number one after an unbeaten 223 against West Indies in Guwahati. That innings earned him 25 rating points and took him to 841, which equals his career-best rating. Virat Kohli slipped from second to third in the same update.
KL Rahul also made a move, climbing seven places to tenth after scoring a hundred in the third ODI against West Indies, which puts him back in the top ten. Shai Hope moved up two places to sixth. Further down the list, Amir Jangoo rose 55 places to 55th, and Milind Kumar of the USA moved up four places to 45th.
ODI Bowling Changes
In the ODI bowling rankings, West Indies pacer Jayden Seales rose 12 places to tenth. Adam Zampa moved up four places to 24th, Bjorn Fortuin climbed three places to 65th, Saurabh Netravalkar went up four places to 32nd, and Harmeet Singh rose four places to 53rd.
Analysis: What the Rankings Tell Us
It is worth separating what the rankings show from what they predict. They are a snapshot of recent performance, not a guarantee of future form. But they do tell a useful story about India’s position in white-ball cricket.
First, India’s batting depth in T20Is is exceptional. Having four batters in the top ten means the team can lose a top-order player to injury or rest without losing its identity. This matters in a long bilateral season, and it also matters as selectors think about the next global tournament. Competition for places is clearly intense.
Second, Gill’s ODI dominance is striking. A double century is rare in the 50-over format, and the fact that he gained 25 rating points from one innings and tied his career-best 841 shows how high his standard has been. With Kohli at number three and Rahul back in the top ten, India’s ODI batting lineup has both established stars and a resurgent Rahul in the mix.
Third, West Indies are producing individual performers even when the team result goes against them. Shai Hope’s rise in the ODI list, Jayden Seales’ jump in the ODI bowling rankings, and Sherfane Rutherford’s progress in the T20I batting list all point to a squad with real quality. The visitors’ record chase in Ranchi, where Hope hit an unbeaten 102, suggests that this is a side capable of causing problems.
What to Watch Next
The T20I series between India and West Indies is level at 1-1 after West Indies won the second match in Ranchi, so there are three games left that could move the rankings again. Iyer will want to consolidate his position in the top ten, while Hope and Rutherford will be looking to build on their performances in Ranchi. Rankings are updated regularly after series and tournaments, so players have plenty of chances to climb further.
For Gill, the challenge is to maintain his top ranking in the 50-over format, with Kohli in third. The next ODI assignments will show whether he can build on his recent heights.
Conclusion
The latest ICC rankings are a good week for Indian batters. Shreyas Iyer is a career-best seventh in T20Is after his unbeaten 102, Shubman Gill stays number one in ODIs on 841 points after 223 not out, and KL Rahul is back in the ODI top ten. With four Indians in the T20I top ten, the depth of the batting group is one of the biggest strengths of the team heading into the rest of the season.
