05 Nov Sharma in race to top T20 Player Index
England’s Will Jacks continues to top the T20 player Index, but his position is under increasing pressure from India’s Abhishek Sharma, who has climbed to second place.
Sharma’s explosive approach at the top of the order makes him one of the most destructive batters in the format, illustrated by his strike rate of 197.4 – the highest among the top 50 and the best of any batter to have scored at least 1,500 runs over the last three years.
Jacks’ fellow countryman Jos Buttler climbs back into the top three for the first time since April 2024, with India’s influence evident immediately below him. Hardik Pandya sits in fourth place with Shivam Dube climbing to a career-high fifth. It is the first time that three Indian players have occupied positions inside the top five of the T20 Player Index.
Pakistan’s Shadab Khan has also climbed to a career-best spot in the rankings at sixth, while former world No.1 Sunil Narine has returned to the top 10 in eighth.
Rashid Khan has slipped to tenth, but as an ever-present inside the top 10 since March 2018, the Afghanistan leg-spinner’s presence is a testament to his extraordinary consistency in short form cricket.
Australia’s Cooper Connolly has made huge strides in 2026 having started the year outside the top 300. His performances over the last 12 months have been particularly impressive, with his ranking over that period alone placing him second.
Having spent much of the last four years hovering around the top 100, England white-ball campaign Harry Brook has finally broken into the top 50, reaching 40th place for the first time. Brook has played fewer matches than any other player currently inside the top 50 but is ranked 15th for performances over the last 12 months alone.
Other climbers outside of the top 100 include Namibia’s Gerhard Erasmus (from 148th to 56th), Ireland’s Gareth Delany (190th to 70th) and Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka (217th to 98th).
To see the latest Men’s T20 Player Index World Rankings click here.