T20 World Cup ladder: After record 8th IPL century, Virat Kohli moves up 5 spots to No.3 in week 3 of our rankings

The rankings continue to sway heavily at the top of our T20 World Cup Ladder standings as we head into week 3.

The Indian Express’ first T20 World Cup Ladder standings had Mumbai Indians talisman Rohit Sharma emerging as our pick for the first name the Indian think tank should write on the list to catch the plane to the T20 World Cup in the USA and the Caribbean. Rohit was later overhauled by pace ace Jasprit Bumrah who continues to hold the top spot.

This is why The Indian Express’ sports team will run the T20 World Cup Ladder, a daily form tracker of sorts where we try to slip into the shoes of the Indian think tank and try to work out what Team India will look like for the World Cup 2024.

Here’s how the T20 World Cup Ladder works and how you can participate as well: Player positions on the T20 World Cup Ladder will be updated every week by The Indian Express sports team.

But if you think Virat Kohli should definitely make the cut into the Indian team, or if you think India should gamble on Rishabh Pant in the T20 World Cup, we’d like to know your thoughts on our T20 World Cup Ladder. Write to us: sports@indianexpress.com

(Performances in bold highlight those from week 3)

1. Jasprit Bumrah: 3/14, 0/36, 8* & 0/26 | 2/22 (Last Week Rank: 1)

India’s pace ace continues to hold onto the top spot. While he had gone wicketless in consecutive games, Bumrah broke the duck with a searing, unplayable yorker that nearly put Prithvi Shaw’s foot in danger. Bumrah’s spell eventually turned out to be crucial in MI’s first win of the season.

2. Rohit Sharma: 43, 26, 0 | 49 (Last Week Rank: 2)

The wait for a fifty continues but Rohit Sharma’s intent in the PowerPlay has been better than most openers this season. Though he fell for a golden duck against Rajasthan Royals, Rohit returned to hitting form with a crisp 49 against Delhi Capitals, paving the way for MI’s first win. He holds his spot at no. 2.

3 Virat Kohli: 21, 77, 83* | 22, 113* (Last week rank: 8)

His hundred may have divided opinions but you cannot deny the fact that Kohli’s return to competitive action has been smooth sailing so far. With an inconsistent top-order around him, Kohli’s form has been the only positive strand for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru top-order. A record-extending eighth-ton catapults him into the thick of things in the top 3.

4 Axar Patel: 21 & 0/25, 15* & 1/21, 7* & 1/20 | 0 & 0/18, 8 & 2/35 (Last Week Rank: 5)

While his batting exploits haven’t necessarily handed the impetus DC are yearning for in the middle-order, Axar continues to be a vital run-choker with the ball in the middle overs. The set-up to dismiss Rohit Sharma in the clash against MI brings Axar’s control to the fore, making him an invaluable asset with the ball.

Axar Patel cleaned up Rohit Sharma during their recent meeting in Mumbai. (BCCI)

5 Kuldeep Yadav: 2/20, 1/41, DNP | DNP, DNP (Last Week Rank: 4)

A step down the ladder will not harm Kuldeep. However, having missed a couple of matches due to niggles, it remains to be seen how India’s premier wrist-spinner will fare upon return to the field.

6 Rinku Singh: 23, 5* | 26, 9 (Last week rank: 6)

India’s touted finisher has not had the best of starts to the IPL and that may come down to the fact that he has limited time in the middle thus far. With a fiery KKR batting order stacking up big runs, Rinku’s late entry points in tricky conditions hold him back, for now.

7 Yashasvi Jaiswal: 24, 5 | 10, 0 (Last Week Rank: 3)

Jaiswal’s odd patch of form continues as he fails to clear the PowerPlay once again. His overly aggressive approach may require a tone-down and with several opening options entering a stiff tussle, the left-hander may want to be a tad watchful of his next step.

8. Shubman Gill: 31, 8, 36 | 89*, 19 (Last week rank: 9)

Having started on a lean note, Gill returned to his best with an unbeaten 89 against Punjab Kings, albeit in a losing cause. Gill’s returns outside Ahmedabad though remain shallow and the right-hander would want to make quick amends on that front.

9 Ravi Bishnoi: 1/38, 0/25 | 0/33, 1/8 (Last week rank: 10)

With conditions playing to his favour, Ravi Bishnoi constricted GT with figures of 1 for 8 in two overs with a spectacular return catch. The leggie will, however, need to firm up the wickets column with the World Cup selection deadline fast approaching.

10 Arshdeep Singh: 2/28, 0/40, 2/30 | 0/33 (Last week rank: 7)

Arshdeep’s wavering form puts India’s probable attack in limbo. The left-armer may be the second-best seamer that India might have in the format. However, a descent down the ladder may not be as slow as expected. Arshdeep’s lack of wickets coupled with his poor economy will be a problem that both PBKS and India will want him to fix soon enough.

11. Ravindra Jadeja: 25 &0/21, 7 & 0/15, 21* & 1/43 | 31* & 0/30, 3/18 (Last week rank: 11)

In what was his finest T20 bowling performance in quite a while, Jadeja turned out to be influential in CSK’s resounding win over Kolkata at home in Chepauk. Aided by a tacky surface, Jadeja’s primary skills prevailed to keep him afloat at no. 11 on the ladder.

12 Suryakumar Yadav – DNP | 0 (Last week rank: 12)

A much-awaited return for Suryakumar turned out to be a sorry two-ball stay against Delhi where he bagged a duck. The maverick batter will not be bogged down by the outing too much and there is ample time for the MI batter to mark a turnaround.

13 Shivam Dube: 34*, 51, 18 | 45, 28 (Last week rank: 16)

The hard-hitting Dube continues to play the spin marauder for CSK and his success rate will be a point of interest for the selectors. Dube is striking sixes at will and it may not be long before he nails down a huge spot in India’s T20 World Cup squad.

Shivam Dube has evolved as a fearsome striker against spin in the IPL. (BCCI)

14 Hardik Pandya: 11, 24, 0/30, 1/46 | 34, 39 (Last week rank: 15)

After bowling in the first two matches with nominal returns, Hardik has refrained from taking the ball for MI in the following matches. The MI all-rounder is also not at his fluent best with the bat playing higher up the order at number 4. With the sixes waning and a lack of bowling, Hardik’s position may be questionable even as he offers a supposed balance between departments.

15 Mohammed Siraj: 0/38, 2/26, 0/46 | 12 & 1/47, 1/35 (Last week rank: 14)

With fluctuating returns, Mohammed Siraj moves down to the 15th spot. The right-arm quick stands in the fringes with contenders cropping up and will need to make a crucial overhaul in the upcoming weeks to hold onto his spot.

16 Sanju Samson: 82*, 15 | 12, 69 (Last week rank: 18)

The Rajasthan Royals captain continues to blow hot and cold but it turns out to be pretty good every time he fires. A counter-attacking fifty against RCB propelled RR to their fourth consecutive win and Samson will hope his vein of form will stay consistent over the next few weeks.

17. Rishabh Pant: 18, 28, 51 | 55, 1 (Last week rank: 20)

With back-to-back fifties, Rishabh Pant may have marked his return to the top tier in style. That performance may have put him as the firm favourite to take over the gloves for the World Cup but it remains to be seen how consistently Pant can deliver as an attacking middle-order bat in the format which has not been his strength over the last four to five years.

18. Yuzvendra Chahal: 1/25, 2/19 | 3/11, 2/34 (Last week: 21)

The out-of-favour India leggie continues to throw in splendid performances in a bid to make his first World Cup. Chahal has stacked up nine wickets in four matches and it would be difficult to push him out of contention if he extends his run this time.

19. Jitesh Sharma: 9, 27, 6 | 16 (Last week rank: 13)

The PBKS keeper may have started the IPL season as India’s favoured keeper for the World Cup. But in the matter of a couple of weeks, Jitesh finds himself out of the top 15, failing to click in his designated role of a finisher for Punjab.

20 Tilak Varma: 25, 64 32 | 6 (Last week rank: 17)

The young southpaw’s mercurial run has witnessed a blip on the ladder. However, Tilak will continue to be in contention for a middle-order spot with his penchant for scoring tough runs being a feature of his game. However, the competition has stiffened with the return of Suryakumar and Tilak will require a mountain of runs to forge a comeback.

The rest
21 Ruturaj Gaikwad: 15, 46, 1 | 26, 67* (Last week rank: 19)
22. KL Rahul: 58, 15 | 20, 33 (Last week rank: 22)
23. Avesh Khan: 0/21, 1/29 | 1/30, 0/46 (Last week rank: 23)
24. R Ashwin: 1/35, 29 & 0/30 | 16 & 0/27, 0/28 (Last week rank: 25)
25. Riyan Parag: 43, 84* | 54*, 4 (Last week rank: 28)
26. Dhruv Jurel: 20*, 20 | DNB, 2 (Last week rank: 24)
27. Khaleel Ahmed: 2/43, 1/24, 2/21 | 1/43, 1/39 (Last week rank: 30)
28. Mukesh Kumar: 1/49, 3/21 | DNP (Last week: 26)
29. Mohit Sharma: 2/32, 1/36, 3/25 | 1/38, 0/34 (Last week rank: 29)
30. Washington Sundar: 0, 0/27 | DNP (Last week rank: 27)
31. Ishan Kishan: 0, 34, 16 | 42 (Last week: 32)
32. Shreyas Iyer: 0, 39* | 18, 34 (Last week rank: 31)

For previous T20 WC ladders –
Week 2
Week 1

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