Lokesh Rahul, Evin Lewis make giant leap in T20 rankings

Rival openers Evin Lewis of the West Indies and India’s Lokesh Rahul have made huge gains in the latest ICC players rankings for T20 batsmen after slamming fine centuries in the recent two-match series in Lauderhill, USA, played on 27 and 28 August.

The first match, in which a T20 record aggregate of 489 runs were scored, saw Lewis slam a 49-ball 100 in the West Indies’ total of 245 for six that has helped him move up 288 slots to reach 51st rank. Rahul’s unbeaten 110 in India’s reply of 244 for four has given a lift of 67 places which has put him in 31st place.

The West Indies, which won the series 1-0 with the thrilling one-run win in the first match, not only saw some of their batsmen improve their rankings significantly but they have also narrowed the gap with India in the ICC team rankings.

Two-time ICC World Twenty20 champion West Indies, who were six points behind second-placed India’s 128 points before the series, are now just one point adrift at 125 with India on 126. New Zealand lead the table with 132 points.

India’s Rohit Sharma has moved up five places to reach 17th place following knocks of 62 and 10 not out, while Johnson Charles of the West Indies has vaulted 26 places to a career-best 23rd following innings of 79 and 43.

In the ICC player rankings for T20 bowlers, India’s Ravichandran Ashwin returned to the top five as he moved from seventh to fourth position. The off-spinner, who enjoyed a career-high rank of second in February and March this year, grabbed two for 11 in the second match.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (67th) and Mohammad Shami (82nd) were the others to move up the bowlers’ rankings for India. Leg-spinner Amit Mishra, playing his first match since the ICC World Twenty20 in 2014, has re-entered the rankings at 104thposition with three for 24 in the second match.