New No.1 ranked T20I bowler crowned following heroics against Pakistan
A change at the top of the T20I rankings for bowlers as New Zealand players make giant strides, while a Pakistan pacer improves up the ODI charts.
New Zealand quick Jacob Duffy has capped off his remarkable recent rise by becoming the new No.1 ranked player on the updated ICC Men's T20I Bowler Rankings.
Duffy claims top spot from West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein on the back of his heroics during the Black Caps' recent T20I series at home against Pakistan where he netted a series-high 13 wickets at an imposing average of 8.38.
Jacob Duffy led the charge with the ball as New Zealand wrapped up series win over Pakistan 🙌#NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/su0FSBbyyD
— ICC (@ICC) March 23, 2025
His efforts helped New Zealand register an impressive 4-1 series triumph across the five matches, with the 30-year-old pacer rising four spots and in front of Hosein, Varun Chakaravarthy, Adil Rashid and Wanindu Hasaranga as a result.
It is the first time Duffy has held the No.1 bowler ranking in any format and the right-armer is the first New Zealander to hold the premier bowling ranking in men's T20I cricket since Ish Sodhi in 2018.
#STATCHAT A fantastic series for Jacob Duffy, as he equals the record for most wickets in a 5-match T20I series for the BLACKCAPS 🏏 #Cricket #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/NIDmOCPJ86
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) March 27, 2025
Duffy isn't the only New Zealand player rising up the rankings this week, with top-order batter Tim Seifert also reaching a new career-high rating following an excellent series against Pakistan.
Seifert scored 249 runs at an average of 62.25 across the five matches, with a series-best score of 97* in the series finale in Wellington helping the 30-year-old claim the Player of the Series mantle.
Tim Seifert was in spectacular form on his return to the Black Caps 🔥💪
— ICC (@ICC) March 27, 2025
Read more on #NZvPAK ➡️ https://t.co/CFczoB4YeD pic.twitter.com/X7GDbVSXBD
Those knocks helped Seifert rise five spots to eighth overall on the updated rankings for T20I batters, with the 30-year-old the leading New Zealand player in this category that is led by Australia's Travis Head.
Seifert's teammate Finn Allen gains one place to move to 15th on the latest T20I batter rankings, while Jimmy Neesham improves 14 ranks to 30th on the list for T20I all-rounders following some strong efforts against Pakistan.
James Neesham's maiden T20I five-wicket haul keeps Pakistan in check 👊#NZvPAK 📝: https://t.co/AZXACeRMsJ pic.twitter.com/nvRwGbzuTx
— ICC (@ICC) March 26, 2025
There is also some joy for New Zealand players in the updated ODI rankings following the opening match of their 50-over series against Pakistan, with Mark Chapman rising from outside the top 100 to 78th overall on the list for ODI batters after his superb century in Napier.
Teammate Will O'Rourke improves 15 places to 56th on the list for ODI bowlers after his economical effort from the same match, while Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf gains nine spots to jump to 16th after a pair of wickets during the Napier contest.