T20 World Cup winner and star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya made history on Wednesday (July 3) by becoming the first Indian cricketer to reach the top spot in the ICC T20I all-rounder rankings. The 30-year-old all-rounder rose to the top spot after putting up an outstanding performance for India in the recently finished T20 World Cup 2024, which India won by defeating South Africa in the final match.
Hardik was one of the heroes of that final; he took three wickets for 20 runs in three overs to help India defend 176 runs and end a 17-year wait for their second T20 World Cup triumph at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Saturday (June 29). The Baroda-born cricketer put up a great all-round performance and ended the T20 World Cup 2024 with 144 runs and 11 wickets.
Hardik, who was Rohit Sharma‘s deputy during the T20 World Cup 2024, got the reward for his exceptional all-round performance during the T20 World Cup 2024. He rose two places to reach the top spot in the most recent ICC rankings update, which was revealed on Wednesday, July 3. He has 222 rating points. Before Hardik, no other Indian cricketer had ever reached the top spot in the T20I all-rounder rankings.
Hardik is the sixth Indian cricketer to top the T20I rankings, after Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravi Bishnoi. While Gambhir, Kohli, and Surya had previously led the batting rankings, Bumrah and Bishnoi are the only two Indian bowlers to attain the top spot in ICC T20 rankings.
Indians to attain No. 1 Position in T20I rankings
Batters: Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav
Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Ravi Bishnoi
All-rounders: Hardik Pandya
