ICC rankings: Jansen tops Test bowling and all-rounder lists, ends Jadeja's reign
By Tanishq BhattEntertainment Writer, Peepals Global
Representative image: FunkyFocus / Pixabay
Marco Jansen became No. 1 Test bowler and all-rounder on October 28, 2026, ending Jadeja's four-year reign; Abhishek Sharma regained T20I No. 1.
What Happened
South Africa's Marco Jansen became the world's top-ranked Test bowler and Test all-rounder at the same time in the ICC men's player rankings released on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, ending India's Ravindra Jadeja's run of more than four years at the top of the all-rounder list. In the same update, India opener Abhishek Sharma returned to No. 1 in the T20 International batting rankings after his century against New Zealand in Wellington. Jansen's rise followed his performance in the second Test against Australia in the current World Test Championship series, where he scored 85 and took five wickets for 33 in the first innings as South Africa won by 31 runs.
Key Facts
- Marco Jansen is now No. 1 in the ICC Test bowling rankings, moving past Australia's Mitchell Starc after gaining 45 rating points.
- Jansen also rose to No. 1 among Test all-rounders with 451 points, ahead of Ravindra Jadeja on 422 and Bangladesh's Mehidy Hasan Miraz on 319.
- Jadeja had held the top all-rounder spot for more than four years.
- Jansen is the first South African to top the Test bowling list since Kagiso Rabada in November 2024.
- Abhishek Sharma reclaimed the No. 1 spot in T20I batting, moving ahead of India teammate Ishan Kishan, after a century in the third T20I against New Zealand.
- Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi climbed five places to third in the ODI all-rounder rankings.
Why It Matters
The ICC rankings are a running measure of form across the last few years of international cricket, weighted towards recent matches. Holding the top spot in two Test lists at once is rare and signals that Jansen has become one of the most complete players in the longest format. A fast bowler who can also make big scores with the bat, he gives South Africa balance: they can play an extra specialist without weakening the batting or the attack.
For Indian fans, the change at the top of the all-rounder list marks the end of a long era. Jadeja's run of more than four years as the No. 1 Test all-rounder reflected his steady value with both bat and ball. He remains second, close enough to return with a strong series, but the gap of 29 points shows how much Jansen's latest match lifted him.
Abhishek Sharma's return to No. 1 in T20Is is a sign of India's depth in short-format batting. That he moved ahead of a teammate, Ishan Kishan, shows how many Indian batters are near the top of the T20I list at once. His century in Wellington helped India seal the series in New Zealand, and his attacking style at the top of the order has become central to India's T20 plans.
The rankings also show a busy month for Test cricket. The World Test Championship gives every series points that count towards a final, so performances like Jansen's in a narrow 31-run win matter both for individual rankings and for team standings.
| Ranking list | New No. 1 | Previous No. 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Test bowling | Marco Jansen (South Africa) | Mitchell Starc (Australia) |
| Test all-rounders | Marco Jansen (South Africa) | Ravindra Jadeja (India) |
| T20I batting | Abhishek Sharma (India) | Ishan Kishan (India) |
Impact
Short-term: Jansen goes into the rest of the series against Australia as the top-ranked bowler, and every match will test whether he can hold both spots. Abhishek Sharma's ranking boost comes as India's T20I side keeps winning.
Long-term: If Jansen keeps up this form, South Africa have a player who can shape their World Test Championship campaign. For India, the loss of the all-rounder top spot raises the question of who will follow Jadeja as the team's next long-term Test all-rounder.
Who is affected: South Africa's and India's teams and fans, rival bowlers such as Mitchell Starc, Ravindra Jadeja, and young Indian T20 batters competing for places at the top of the order.
Key Takeaway
Marco Jansen is now No. 1 in both the ICC Test bowling and all-rounder rankings, ending Ravindra Jadeja's four-year reign, while Abhishek Sharma is back on top in T20I batting.
Questions and Answers
Who is the new No. 1 Test all-rounder in the ICC rankings?
South Africa's Marco Jansen, with 451 rating points in the update of October 28, 2026. Ravindra Jadeja, who had been No. 1 for more than four years, is second on 422.
Who is the top-ranked Test bowler now?
Marco Jansen, who moved past Australia's Mitchell Starc after taking five wickets for 33 in the first innings of the second Test against Australia.
Who is No. 1 in the ICC men's T20I batting rankings?
India's Abhishek Sharma, who regained the top spot from teammate Ishan Kishan after scoring a century in the third T20I against New Zealand in Wellington.
Why did Marco Jansen rise to No. 1?
In the second Test against Australia in the World Test Championship series, he scored 85 and took five wickets for 33 in the first innings, helping South Africa win by 31 runs. That lifted him 45 points in the bowling list and 84 points in the all-rounder list.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Tanishq Bhatt, Entertainment WriterCovers Entertainment and more for Peepals Global. All stories by Tanishq Bhatt
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Tanishq Bhatt is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
