Marco Jansen has become the No. 1 ranked Test bowler and all-rounder, while Abhishek Sharma reclaimed the top spot among T20I batters in a big week of changes to the ICC Men’s Player Rankings.
Jansen earned the top billing in two categories for the first time in his career after a standout performance for the Proteas in their comprehensive victory over Australia in the second ICC World Test Championship contest in Gqeberha. The left-armer contributed 85 runs with the bat and produced a match-turning five-wicket haul during the visitors’ first innings.
Jansen made ground in all three ranking disciplines. The 26-year-old gained 13 spots to move to 56th among Test batters, rose five places to overtake Mitchell Starc as the No. 1 Test bowler, and jumped one rung to end the reign of India’s Ravindra Jadeja as the top-ranked Test all-rounder.
Jadeja had held that mantle for more than four years. Jansen’s rise comes shortly after former South Africa great Dale Steyn called him “the best cricketer in the world.”
Abhishek Back on Top
Abhishek’s return to the summit was arguably more expected. The India left-hander reclaimed the No. 1 spot for T20I batters after his quickfire century against New Zealand in Wellington, the third game of the series, on Tuesday.
Abhishek reached his century in just 35 balls and finished with 113 from 38 deliveries as India cruised to a series-clinching six-wicket triumph. The innings was enough to displace teammate Ishan Kishan, who had taken the premier position from Abhishek in July after some decent efforts in Ireland. Abhishek first ascended to the No. 1 spot in July 2025, when he overtook Australia’s Travis Head.
Bavuma and Other Big Movers
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma also made significant gains, jumping four spots to second overall among Test batters following his Player of the Match performance against Australia in the second Test. Bavuma hit a sensational 179 in the first innings as the Proteas levelled the three-match series at 1-1. England captain Harry Brook is now the only player ahead of him in the Test batting rankings.
Australia pacer Scott Boland climbed three rungs to sixth among Test bowlers. South Africa spinner Simon Harmer rose 15 spots to eighth among Test all-rounders, a list now headed by his teammate Jansen.
In the T20I rankings, Abhishek was not the only player on the move. Teammate Sanju Samson climbed six spots to 20th among batters, while New Zealand power hitter Finn Allen rose three rungs to 25th. Mitchell Santner moved up seven slots to seventh among T20I bowlers, and Arshdeep Singh advanced six places to 15th.
ODI Rankings Shift
The ODI rankings also changed as the tri-series between hosts Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka continues. Ben Duckett and Brook were among the improvers among ODI batters.
Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi climbed two spots to sixth among ODI bowlers. Afghanistan seamer Azmatullah Omarzai jumped 13 places to seventh, and Namibia spinner Bernard Scholtz rose nine slots to eighth. Veteran Mohammad Nabi moved five spots up to third among ODI all-rounders.