The T20I batting rankings have seen a big change recently. In 2026, India’s Abhishek Sharma has moved to the number one spot, ending Travis Head’s long run at the top.
Head had led the rankings since June 2024, but his limited T20I action in recent months gave others a chance to close the gap. Sharma’s explosive form, including a brilliant 135 off 54 balls against England, helped him take the lead.
Here’s a look at the latest top-ranked T20I batters in 2026.
Who is the Best T20 Batsman in the World?
India batter Abhishek Sharma has overtaken his Sunrisers Hyderabad opening partner Travis Head to go top of the T20I batting rankings with 829 points. His career-best rating also stands at 829, which he achieved against England at Mumbai in 2025.
Head had held on to the No. 1 position since June last year, when he toppled Suryakumar Yadav, but having last played a T20I in September 2024 and opting to sit out of Australia’s recent series in West Indies, he slid down to fourth place. Abhishek became the third Indian to top the T20I batting charts after Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav.
Abhishek last turned out for India in the five-match T20I series against England in February, where he played a match-winning knock. His explosive 54-ball 135 in the final game of that series showed exactly why he deserves the number one spot.
What makes Abhishek Sharma so special? He can destroy bowling attacks with his power hitting. His ability to find gaps and clear boundaries consistently makes him a nightmare for opposition teams. The left-handed opener has transformed into one of the most feared T20 batsmen in world cricket.
T20 Batsman Rankings (Top 10)
T20 cricket is the most exciting format for batsmen. The shorter format allows them to play freely and showcase their power-hitting skills in just 20 overs.
| Pos | Team | Player | Rating | Career Best Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | IND | Abhishek Sharma | 908 | 931 vs Sri Lanka at Dubai (2025) |
| 02 | England | Phil Salt | 849 | 881 vs West Indies at Barbados (2024) |
| 03 | India | Tilak Varma | 805 | 845 vs England at Chennai (2025) |
| 04 | Sri Lanka | Pathum Nissanka | 779 | 794 vs Zimbabwe at Rawalpindi (2025) |
| 05 | England | Jos Buttler | 770 | 794 vs South Africa at Old Trafford (2025) |
| 06 | Pakistan | Sahibzada Farhan | 752 | 776 vs Zimbabwe at Rawalpindi (2025) |
| 07 | Australia | Travis Head | 713 | 885 vs Scotland at Edinburgh (2024) |
| 08 | Australia | Mitchell Marsh | 684 | 694 vs India at Melbourne (2025) |
| 09 | New Zealand | Tim Seifert | 683 | 727 vs Zimbabwe at Harare (2025) |
| 10 | South Africa | Dewald Brevis | 680 | 685 vs India at Cuttack (2025) |
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Conclusion: Abhishek Sharma Rules T20 Cricket Today
Abhishek Sharma stands tall as the world’s number one T20 batsman as of 2026. His 829 rating puts him ahead of some incredible talents from across the world. What makes him special is his ability to score runs at a very fast pace.
Cricket keeps changing, and so do the players who lead these rankings. T20 cricket rewards those who can think fast and hit hard. Every format has its own heroes, but T20 belongs to players who love taking risks.
These batting rankings will keep changing as more matches are played. New talents will rise, and current stars will face new challenges. But right now, Abhishek Sharma is showing the world how T20 batting should be done.
FAQs
Abhishek Sharma from India is currently the number 1 T20 batsman in the world with a rating of 829 points. He achieved his career-best rating of 829 against England at Mumbai in 2025.
Suryakumar Yadav holds one of the highest T20 batting ratings with 912 points, which he achieved against New Zealand at Ranchi in 2023. However, current rankings show different leaders based on recent form.
India dominates the top 10 T20 batting rankings with 3 players – Abhishek Sharma (1st), Tilak Varma (2nd), and Suryakumar Yadav (6th). Australia and England each have 2 players in the top 10.
ICC T20 batting rankings are based on a player’s performance over the last 3-4 years. Points are given for runs scored, strike rate, and match impact. Recent performances carry more weight than older matches.
