🏏🔥 Sahibzada Farhan Rises in ICC T20I Rankings — Kohli Closes in on Rohit in ODI Race
🌍 A Massive Shake-Up in ICC Rankings
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released its latest set of men’s T20I, ODI, and Test rankings — and once again, Pakistan and India dominate the headlines. From Sahibzada Farhan’s historic surge in T20Is, to Virat Kohli inching dangerously close to Rohit Sharma in ODIs, to young Pakistani and Indian bowlers sparking major shifts — the cricket world has gone into full debate mode.
This update did much more than shuffle numbers. It reshaped storylines, revived rivalries, and confirmed rising superstars that are ready to take over world cricket.
Let’s dive into the full Cricketory-style deep analysis.
Get ready for breakdowns, insights, fan reactions, trends, and what these ranking shifts mean for the future.
🟢 SECTION 1 Sahibzada Farhan’s Meteoric Rise in T20Is 🔥🇵🇰
Pakistan's top-order sensation Sahibzada Farhan has officially announced himself on the world stage — and this time, ICC numbers finally reflect the hype.
🏆 Farhan Climbs to World No. 5 in T20I Batting Rankings
With 752 rating points, Farhan leapfrogged India’s Tilak Varma to secure fifth place, marking one of the biggest jumps in recent Pakistan batting history.
⭐ Why This Rise Matters
Farhan wasn’t a one-series wonder. His consistency in the recent home tri-series:
- Strong strike rates
- Clean hitting
- Match-winning chases
- High-pressure adaptability
…have cemented him as Pakistan’s most improved T20I batter since Saim Ayub’s breakout.
🎯 What Makes Farhan Special?
- Elegant timing like Babar Azam
- Shot selection like Rizwan
- Fearlessness like Fakhar Zaman
- Powerplay dominance like Suryakumar Yadav
Pakistan fans long complained about lack of aggressive top-order consistency — Farhan has ended that debate.
🌟 SECTION 2 — Saim Ayub Remains the King of T20I All-Rounders 👑🇵🇰
The ICC’s shortest-format all-rounder rankings still belong to Saim Ayub, who continues to hold the No. 1 spot with authority.
💎 Why Saim Ayub Is Unmatched Right Now
- Explosive left-handed opener
- Game-changing off-spin
- Intelligent field placements
- Complete T20-package in modern cricket
Even as India’s Hardik Pandya rose to fourth, and other all-rounders climbed, no one came close to dethroning Saim.
🧨 SECTION 3 — ODI Rankings: Rohit vs Kohli Becomes a Neck-and-Neck Battle 🇮🇳🔥
The biggest talking point in global cricket this week:
🇮🇳 Virat Kohli has moved within 8 rating points of Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma — 781
Virat Kohli — 773
This is the closest the two greats have been in years.
👑 The Battle at the Top
Rohit leads — but barely.
Kohli surged after overtaking:
✔️ Daryl Mitchell
✔️ Ibrahim Zadran
This sets up a dream storyline:
Will Virat overtake Rohit before the 2025 Champions Trophy?
Why This Surge Is Huge
Kohli’s late-career ODI resurgence proves:
- 50-over format remains his empire
- His adaptability continues
- His consistency in big tournaments is unmatched
🔥 SECTION 4 Kuldeep Yadav’s Big Leap in ODI Bowling Rankings 🇮🇳
India’s spinning maestro Kuldeep Yadav soared three places to claim No. 3 in the ODI bowling rankings.
🌀 Why Kuldeep Is Rising Fast
- Deadly wrong’uns
- Middle-overs wicket control
- Left-arm wrist spin uniqueness
- World Cup performance boost
He now sits behind Rashid Khan, who still rules the ranking table.
🟡 SECTION 5 Pakistan’s ODI Bowlers on the Rise 🇵🇰
While India celebrated Kuldeep, Pakistan celebrated two silent warriors:
🌪️ Shaheen Shah Afridi
Climbed to 19th place
Consistent swing & deadly yorkers in early overs.
🔥 Haris Rauf
Moved up to 22nd
Death-overs strike rate & raw pace earning global respect.
Pakistan’s pace-bowling revival is well underway.
🔵 SECTION 6 Test Rankings: Saud Shakeel Joins the Elite 🏆🇵🇰
Pakistan’s technically brilliant left-hander Saud Shakeel officially entered the global Test Top 10 for the first time, climbing to:
World No. 10 in Test Batting
He becomes:
- Pakistan’s highest-ranked Test batter
- A symbol of Pakistan’s red-ball resurgence
His style resembles:
- Babar Azam’s elegance
- Younis Khan’s patience
This is a massive achievement for a young cricketer still shaping his identity.
🧱 SECTION 7 Test Bowling: Noman Ali Drops, Starc Rises 🇦🇺
Australia’s Mitchell Starc jumped three places to move into third in Test bowling rankings, pushing Pakistan’s Noman Ali down to fourth.
Why Starc’s Rise Matters
- Red-ball strike rate improving
- Away-series performances
- High-speed left-arm angle advantage
He continues to rewrite the tail-end bowling metric.
🌍 SECTION 8 Global Power Trends Based on These Rankings
From all formats combined, this week paints a very clear picture:
🔥 Pakistan Rising in T20Is
- Farhan stakes claim
- Saim dominates
- Strong all-round presence
🔥 India Dominating ODIs
- Rohit & Virat at the top
- Kuldeep surging
- ODI batting is heavily India-controlled
🔥 Australia Strongest in Tests
- Starc + pace battery
- Consistency across SENA nations
🔥 Afghanistan Rising Across Formats
- Rashid Khan ruling ODI bowling
- Ibrahim Zadran consistently in Top 10
These shifts affect future series, ICC events, and global cricket narratives.
🔍 SECTION 9 Cricketory Insights: What These Rankings REALLY Mean
Let’s break it down the Cricketory way:
🧩 1. Pakistan’s T20 Future Looks Secure
Farhan + Saim + Shakeel = long-term stability.
This is Pakistan’s strongest core since 2017.
🧩 2. India’s ODI Dominance Is Unmatched
Two GOATs (Rohit + Virat) in Top 2
One rising bowling superstar (Kuldeep)
India is the strongest ODI team heading into 2025–26.
🧩 3. Test Cricket’s Shift Back to Pace
Starc, Cummins, Siraj, Rabada
Pace is again dominating global Test cricket.
🧩 4. Afghanistan’s Influence Will Grow
Rashid Khan anchoring ODI bowling
Their rising stars showing maturity
👥 SECTION 10 Fans’ Reactions (Pakistan, India & Neutral Fans)
🇵🇰 Pakistani Fans:
“Farhan deserved this! The guy carried us in the tri-series.”
“Saud Shakeel in the Top 10? Finally ICC recognises red-ball class!”
“Saim Ayub world No.1 — Pakistan is the new T20 king!”
🇮🇳 Indian Fans:
“Kohli vs Rohit — the rivalry is alive again!”
“Kuldeep Yadav 🔥🔥🔥 What a comeback!”
“India running ODI cricket once more!”
🌏 Neutral Fans:
“These rankings look more balanced than ever.”
“Finally some competition at the top — cricket needs this.”
“This is the most exciting ICC weekly update in years!”
📈 SECTION 11 What This Means for Upcoming ICC Events
🏆 T20 World Cup 2026
Pakistan’s top-order looks deadly
India’s middle order stable
Australia improving
Afghanistan unpredictable
England rebuilding
🏆 Champions Trophy 2025
Pakistan’s Test & ODI climbers strengthen their squad
India’s batting depth makes them favorites
South Africa remains dark horse
🏆 World Test Championship
Saud Shakeel strengthens Pakistan
Starc boosts Australia
England still struggling in bowling metrics
❓ FAQs
Q1. Why did Sahibzada Farhan rise so quickly?
A: Because of his consistent scoring, high average, and exceptional strike rate in the recent tri-series.
Q2. Will Virat Kohli overtake Rohit Sharma?
A: If Kohli continues his ODI form, yes — the margin is only 8 points.
Q3. Why did Noman Ali drop in Test rankings?
A: Because Mitchell Starc gained more rating points with recent performance.
Q4. Is Pakistan dominating T20Is?
A: Yes — in terms of individual rankings, Pakistan is currently at its strongest.
Q5. Which country dominates ODI cricket right now?
A: India — both top 2 batters plus a top 3 bowler.