Sri Lanka’s spinner Maheesh Theekshana achieved a remarkable hat-trick against New Zealand and delivered exceptional performances earlier as well. As a result, he has climbed into the top three of the ICC ODI bowling rankings for the first time.
He moved up four spots to secure the third position. Theekshana achieved this milestone by taking 4 wickets for 44 runs in the first ODI in Hamilton and a total of 7 wickets in the series, although Sri Lanka lost the series 2-1.
Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan tops the bowlers’ rankings, followed by India’s Kuldeep Yadav in second place. New Zealand pacer Matt Henry climbed three spots to rank 9th, while left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner moved up two spots to 15th. Sri Lankan pacer Asitha Fernando broke into the top 100 for the first time, advancing 34 spots to reach 97th place.
There are no changes in the top ten of the batting rankings, with Pakistan’s Babar Azam maintaining the top position. However, Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka dropped five spots to 18th due to poor form in the New Zealand series.
Theekshana also improved in the all-rounders’ rankings, moving up four spots to rank 26th. Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga dropped two places to 13th, while New Zealand’s all-rounder Mitchell Santner also slipped two spots to 17th.
Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi remains at the top of the all-rounders’ rankings, followed by Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza in second place, Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai in third, and Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz in fourth.
