03 Apr, 2025 | 09:34 AM

New Zealand fast bowler Jacob Duffy has ascended to the top spot in the ICC Men's T20I Bowling Rankings, overtaking West Indies left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein. Duffy’s rise follows a sensational performance during New Zealand's recent T20I series against Pakistan, where he played a pivotal role in his team’s 4-1 series victory.

Duffy’s impressive haul of 13 wickets across five matches at an outstanding average of 8.38, including a career-best of 4 for 14, helped propel him to the No. 1 ranking. This remarkable achievement has seen him leapfrog several top-ranked bowlers, including Hosein, Varun Chakaravarthy, Adil Rashid, and Wanindu Hasaranga. Duffy’s rise marks his first time at the top of the rankings in any format and makes him the first New Zealand player to hold the No. 1 spot in T20I bowling since Ish Sodhi in 2018.

Having made his T20I debut for New Zealand in 2020, Duffy now boasts 32 wickets in 23 matches, with his recent exploits cementing his position as one of the top bowlers in the world.

Meanwhile, in the batting charts, Duffy's teammate Tim Seifert has enjoyed a significant rise, climbing five places to No. 8. Seifert amassed 249 runs in five matches against Pakistan, averaging 62.25. His standout moment came in the fifth T20I, where he scored a career-best 97* in a chase of 129. Seifert’s opening partner, Finn Allen, also moved up one spot to No. 15 in the batting rankings.

In the allrounder rankings, New Zealand’s James Neesham surged up 14 places to No. 30 after his solid contributions, which included a career-best 5 for 22 in the fifth T20I.

In the batting rankings, Australia’s Travis Head retains the No. 1 spot, with India’s Abhishek Sharma and England’s Phil Salt following in second and third, respectively.

Duffy’s ascension to No. 1, combined with strong performances across the team, highlights New Zealand’s growing strength in both batting and bowling, making them a formidable force in T20I cricket.