Pakistan’s young all-rounder Sam Ayub has surged to the top of the ICC T20I all-rounder rankings, overtaking India’s Hardik Pandya despite a poor batting performance in the Asia Cup 2025. Ayub scored only 37 runs in seven matches, including four dismissals without scoring (ducks), but his impressive bowling effort propelled him to the No. 1 spot.

In the Asia Cup, Ayub picked up 8 wickets in 7 matches at an economy rate of 6.40, becoming Pakistan’s third-most successful bowler in the tournament. This exceptional bowling performance outweighed his batting failures and earned him 241 rating points—8 points more than Hardik Pandya’s 233. Pandya, who last played in the Asia Cup final, had a moderate tournament, scoring 48 runs and taking 4 wickets.

The rankings also highlighted the rise of Indian all-rounders Axar Patel and Shivam Dube, who improved their standings following strong performances. Meanwhile, India’s Abhishek Sharma set a new record, reaching 926 rating points in the ICC T20I batting rankings.

Sam Ayub’s elevation to the top all-rounder spot illustrates the significant weight given to bowling performances in the rankings system and his growing importance as a key player for Pakistan’s T20 squad.