🌟 Saim Ayub Dethrones Hardik Pandya to Become No.1 T20I All-Rounder ICC Rankings 2025
🏏 A Historic Moment for Pakistan Cricket
Pakistan cricket fans are celebrating a historic achievement as Saim Ayub, the young left-handed batter and part-time off-spinner, has claimed the No.1 spot in the ICC Men’s T20I All-Rounder Rankings. At just 23 years old, Ayub has managed to dethrone India’s star all-rounder Hardik Pandya, marking a new era for Pakistan cricket.
This achievement is particularly impressive considering Ayub’s recent struggles with the bat. However, his consistent and economical bowling spells in the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 have proven decisive in pushing him to the top.
In this blog, we’ll break down:
- 📈 Saim Ayub’s journey to the No.1 ranking
- 🔥 Key highlights from the Asia Cup 2025
- 🇮🇳 India’s Abhishek Sharma’s record-breaking batting dominance
- 📊 Latest ICC T20I Rankings across batters, bowlers, and all-rounders
- 🌍 What this means for Pakistan and world cricket moving forward
🌟 Saim Ayub’s Journey to No.1 All-Rounder Ranking
🎓 Early Promise and Domestic Rise
Saim Ayub has long been viewed as one of Pakistan’s brightest young talents. Hailing from Karachi, he first gained attention in domestic cricket for his elegant stroke play. His breakthrough came in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he impressed with both bat and ball.
🔑 Asia Cup 2025 – The Turning Point
Despite struggling with the bat (just 37 runs in 7 innings), Ayub showcased his bowling talent by claiming 8 wickets at an economy rate of 6.40. In the low-scoring and pressure-filled Asia Cup matches, these figures were priceless for Pakistan.
🥇 Toppling Hardik Pandya
Ayub’s all-round performances helped him leapfrog Hardik Pandya in the ICC rankings. This is significant because Pandya has long been considered one of the most impactful T20 all-rounders.
📊 Latest ICC T20I All-Rounder Rankings
- Saim Ayub (Pakistan) – 238 points
- Hardik Pandya (India) – 234 points
- Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan) – 231 points
- Dipendra Singh Airee (Nepal) – 220 points
- Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe) – 215 points
This mix of names shows how Associate Nations are now competing alongside the traditional giants, adding depth and diversity to world cricket.
🔥 Abhishek Sharma – Breaking Records in T20I Batting
While Pakistan is celebrating Ayub’s rise, India’s Abhishek Sharma has stolen the spotlight in the batting charts.
📌 Record-Breaking Rating Points
Abhishek now has 931 rating points, the highest ever in ICC T20I batting history, surpassing Dawid Malan’s 919 points (2020).
🏆 Asia Cup 2025 Performance
- Runs: 314
- Average: 44.85
- Strike Rate: 200.00
- Award: Player of the Tournament
His blistering half-century against Sri Lanka not only helped India lift the trophy but also cemented his name in cricket history.
🇵🇰 Pakistan Players in ICC T20I Rankings
🏏 Batting Rankings
- Sahibzada Farhan – 🚀 jumped 11 spots to 13th place (658 points)
- Fakhar Zaman – ⬆️ climbed to 60th place
- Salman Ali Agha – ⬆️ moved to 62nd place
- Mohammad Haris – ⬆️ jumped 11 places to 79th place
- Babar Azam – ⬇️ slipped to 37th place
- Mohammad Rizwan – ⬇️ dropped to 41st place
🎯 Bowling Rankings
- Shaheen Afridi – ⬆️ moved to 13th place, equalling Axar Patel with 635 points
- Mohammad Nawaz – ⬆️ 41st
- Saim Ayub – ⬆️ massive jump of 51 spots to 58th
- Faheem Ashraf – ⬆️ surged 26 places to 93rd
- Abrar Ahmed – ⬇️ down to 7th
- Sufiyan Muqeem – ⬇️ down to 17th
- Haris Rauf – ⬇️ down to 33rd
- Abbas Afridi – ⬇️ down to 50th
🌍 Global T20I Rankings Snapshot
🏏 Top 5 Batters
- Abhishek Sharma (India) – 931 points
- Phil Salt (England)
- Tilak Varma (India)
- Reeza Hendricks (South Africa)
- Devon Conway (New Zealand)
🎯 Top 5 Bowlers
- Varun Chakaravarthy (India)
- Jacob Duffy (New Zealand)
- Adam Zampa (Australia)
- Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)
- Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh)
🏆 Top 5 All-Rounders
- Saim Ayub (Pakistan)
- Hardik Pandya (India)
- Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan)
- Dipendra Singh Airee (Nepal)
- Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe)
📌 What This Means for Pakistan Cricket
- 🌟 Fresh Stars Rising – With Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan sidelined, Pakistan is finding new heroes in Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, and Shaheen Afridi.
- ⚡ Bowling Depth – Pakistan’s bowling depth continues to shine, with Afridi, Nawaz, and Ayub all making gains.
- 💪 Global Respect – Ayub’s No.1 all-rounder tag puts him alongside legends like Shakib Al Hasan, Shahid Afridi, and Jacques Kallis, elevating Pakistan’s reputation in world cricket.
📰 Cricketory Expert Analysis
The 2025 ICC T20I Rankings show a paradigm shift:
- Young stars like Abhishek Sharma and Saim Ayub are replacing established veterans.
- Associate players like Dipendra Singh Airee are showing that cricket’s globalization is real.
- Pakistan’s rebuilding phase post-Babar/Rizwan is working, with new match-winners emerging.
If Ayub continues to develop his batting while maintaining his effective bowling, he could become the most complete T20 all-rounder of his generation.
❓ FAQs
1. Who is the current No.1 all-rounder in T20Is (2025)?
👉 Pakistan’s Saim Ayub has overtaken India’s Hardik Pandya.2. Who is the No.1 batter in T20Is (2025)?
👉 India’s Abhishek Sharma, with a record-breaking 931 rating points.3. Who is the No.1 bowler in T20Is (2025)?
👉 India’s Varun Chakaravarthy.4. How did Saim Ayub reach the No.1 spot?
👉 His 8 wickets at 6.40 economy in Asia Cup 2025 propelled him past Pandya.5. Which Pakistani players are rising in ICC Rankings?
👉 Sahibzada Farhan (13th batter), Shaheen Afridi (13th bowler), and Mohammad Haris (79th batter).📝 Final Thoughts
Saim Ayub’s rise to the No.1 all-rounder spot is not just a personal triumph but also a turning point for Pakistan cricket. His success proves that young talent can reshape the game and challenge established stars like Hardik Pandya. At the same time, India’s Abhishek Sharma setting a new record for the highest T20I batting rating points signals the arrival of a new era in world cricket.
Together, these milestones highlight how 2025 is the year of cricket’s new generation, where fresh faces are rewriting records and reshaping rankings. The coming months promise thrilling contests as rising stars battle legends for supremacy on the global stage.