India claimed the top spot in the ICC T20I rankings after their series win against Zimbabwe

India’s tour of Zimbabwe provided the perfect response to a forgettable trip to the UK that saw the Men in Blue reclaim the No.1 spot in the ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings after taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series in Harare. The reigning T20 World Cup champions relinquished the top ranking after a dismal winless tour of Great Britain where England completed a 4-0 series triumph to end India’s remarkable 1,605-day reign at the summit.

Instead of dwelling on this setback, Shreyas Iyer’s side responded in a strong manner. India outplayed Zimbabwe in both departments and cruised to a seven-wicket win in the series opener. he followed it up with a crushing 90-run victory in the second T20I seal the streak with a game to spare.

The turnaround was built on contributions across the team. Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi declared himself with a breathtaking half-century in the opener, while the veteran duo of Ishan Kishan (81 off 44) and skipper Shreyas Iyer leveled the innings in the second T20I before Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 60 took India to a dismal 29/51. The bowlers then finished the job by bowling Zimbabwe out for just 129.

ICC T20I RANKINGS

Courtesy: ICC

INDIA RE-DISCOVER HARD WIN AFTER UK NIGHTMARE

The contrast with India’s recent tour of Great Britain could hardly have been more stark. Against England, the batting lacked consistency, the bowling struggled under pressure and the defending world champions failed to record a single victory, allowing England to leapfrog in the ICC rankings. However, Zimbabwe offered India an ideal opportunity to regroup, restore confidence and showcase the depth of their squad.

With the series already secured, India now have a chance to complete the 3-0 lead in the T20I final. A clean sweep would not only underline their dominance but also reinforce the belief that the disappointing UK tour was only a temporary blip. More importantly, regaining the No.1 position after such a rapid turnaround underscores the resilience of a side determined to remain the benchmark in international T20 cricket.

– The end

Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

26 Jul 2026 16:19 IST