India now own three of the top four spots in the ICC men's T20I batting rankings. In the latest update released this week, India captain Shreyas Iyer climbed three places to a career-best fourth, joining Ishan Kishan, who stays at No. 1, and Abhishek Sharma at No. 2. Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan is the only non-Indian in the top four, at No. 3.
The jump comes in the middle of India's five-match home T20I series against West Indies, which is level at 2-2 heading into the decider in Bengaluru on October 17.
Iyer's rise powered by a record century
Iyer's climb began in the series opener in Lucknow, where he hit his maiden T20I hundred. Chasing 172, India won by eight wickets with more than five overs to spare as Iyer finished on 102 not out off 43 balls with ten fours and six sixes. He added 137 for the third wicket with Ishan Kishan, and reports noted he became the first Indian to score a T20I century while captaining the side.
That knock first lifted him into the top seven, and the latest update has taken him up to fourth, his highest position in the format.
ICC T20I batting rankings: top four
| No. 1 | Ishan Kishan (India) |
| No. 2 | Abhishek Sharma (India) |
| No. 3 | Sahibzada Farhan (Pakistan), career-best rating |
| No. 4 | Shreyas Iyer (India), up 3 places, career-best |
Other big movers
Batters
Sanju Samson rose four places to joint 27th. From the West Indies camp, Sherfane Rutherford made a 13-place jump to share 24th after his hard-hitting knocks in India. Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis moved up three to 23rd, while Pakistan's Maaz Sadaqat burst in from outside the top 100 to 45th after a three-match series against Sri Lanka.
Bowlers and all-rounders
West Indies all-rounder Roston Chase was the standout gainer. He jumped 24 places to 23rd among bowlers and rose two spots to third in the all-rounders' list on the back of his performances against India. Pakistan's Salman Mirza climbed nine places to 14th and Saim Ayub moved up eight to 54th in the bowling table.
What it means for Indian cricket fans
Three Indians in the top four is a striking sign of the depth in India's T20 batting. Kishan and Abhishek have given India explosive starts, and Iyer's form in the middle order adds stability and power. For selectors, it is a welcome problem: there are more in-form batters than places in the XI.
It also reflects the aggressive approach India have embraced in the shortest format. Both openers score quickly from ball one, and Iyer's hundred in Lucknow showed how dangerous the middle order can be on good pitches.
There is a note of caution too. Rankings move quickly in T20 cricket, and the West Indies have fought back hard in this series. Shai Hope's century and Keemo Paul's five-wicket haul in the fourth match levelled the contest at 2-2, proving that home advantage alone will not decide the decider.
How the ICC rankings work
ICC player ratings are updated regularly and reward recent performances more heavily, with runs scored against stronger teams and in winning causes carrying extra weight. That is why a single standout series can move a player several places in one update, and why a quiet run can see him slide just as quickly. For Iyer, holding on to fourth will depend on how he performs in the coming matches.
Series snapshot
| Series | India vs West Indies, five T20Is |
| 1st T20I (Lucknow) | India won by 8 wickets; Iyer 102* off 43 |
| Score after 4 matches | 2-2 |
| 5th T20I | October 17, Bengaluru |
What happens next
All eyes now turn to Bengaluru on Saturday, October 17, where the series will be decided. A big score there could push Iyer even closer to the top three, while Kishan and Abhishek will be keen to protect their positions. Chase, Rutherford and Hope will be just as motivated to finish the tour on a high for the West Indies.
The next rankings update after the decider will show whether India can hold on to three of the top four spots.
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