Hardik Pandya Becomes First Indian Player to Top ICC All-Rounders List

In a historic achievement, Hardik Pandya has become the first Indian cricketer to be ranked No.1 in the ICC Men’s T20I all-rounder rankings. This milestone comes after his stellar performances in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, where he played a crucial role in India’s victory.

Historical Context

The ICC (International Cricket Council) rankings are a prestigious measure of a player’s performance in international cricket. Established in 1987, these rankings have been a benchmark for cricketers worldwide. India, a cricketing powerhouse, has produced numerous legendary players, but none had previously achieved the top spot in the T20I all-rounder category until now.

Key Highlights of Hardik Pandya’s Performance

• World Cup Final Impact: Pandya was instrumental in India’s T20 World Cup triumph, taking key wickets of South African players Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller in the final match.
• Tournament Statistics: He amassed 144 runs with a batting strike-rate exceeding 150 and claimed 11 wickets throughout the tournament.
• Overcoming Adversity: Pandya’s rise to the top comes after a challenging Indian Premier League (IPL) season, where he faced criticism for replacing Rohit Sharma as the captain of the Mumbai Indians franchise.

Pandya’s Reaction

Expressing his emotions after the World Cup final, Pandya said, “It means a lot. Very emotional, we’ve been working very hard and something was not clicking. But today we got what the whole nation wanted. Special for me after my six months, I haven’t spoken a word, things have been unfair, but I knew there’d be a time I could shine. An opportunity like this makes it all the more special.”

Other Notable Movements in ICC Rankings

• Jasprit Bumrah: Awarded Player of the Tournament for his 15 wickets, Bumrah climbed 12 spots to reach 12th position in the bowlers’ rankings, his highest since 2020.
• Top 10 All-Rounders: Marcus Stoinis, Sikandar Raza, Shakib Al Hasan, and Liam Livingstone each moved up one spot, while Mohammad Nabi dropped four places, exiting the top five.
• Bowling Rankings: South Africa’s Anrich Nortje achieved a career-best second spot, just behind top-ranked Adil Rashid.

Summary

• Hardik Pandya becomes the first Indian to top the ICC Men’s T20I all-rounder rankings.
• Played a crucial role in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 victory.
• Scored 144 runs and took 11 wickets in the tournament.
• Overcame a challenging IPL season to achieve this milestone.
• Jasprit Bumrah moved up to 12th in the bowlers’ rankings.
• Significant movements in the top 10 all-rounders and bowlers’ rankings.

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