Newly released ICC T20I rankings reveal South African rising talent surges 80 positions following historic century performance
South African cricketer Dewald Brevis has made a significant impact in the world of T20 cricket, following his record-breaking unbeaten 125* against Australia on August 12, 2025, in a T20 International (T20I) match. This innings was the highest individual T20I score by a South African and made him the youngest South African to score a T20I century.
The impact of Brevis's performance was immediate, as he jumped dramatically in the ICC men’s T20I batting rankings, climbing from 101st to 21st place—a rise of 80 spots—as of August 13, 2025. Over the next week, his ranking continued to improve, reaching 12th position by August 20, 2025. This surge reflects his growing status as a leading T20I batter globally.
Brevis had been gaining recognition through franchise cricket, including a successful stint with Chennai Super Kings. His T20I breakthrough in the series against Australia marked his arrival at the international stage with impactful performances. However, his form in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) has been inconsistent, with recent low scores in the Australia-SA ODI series as of August 2025.
Meanwhile, in the same T20I series against Australia, Tristan Stubbs moved up to joint 27th in the ICC T20I batting rankings. George Linde dropped 5 spots in the ICC T20I all-rounder rankings. Kagiso Rabada moved up 15 spots in the ICC T20I bowling rankings, while Kwena Maphaka, a left-arm quick from South Africa, moved up 61 spots.
In the global rankings, Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka) has a rating of 679 and is ranked 6th in the ICC T20I bowler rankings. Akeal Hosein (West Indies) has a rating of 707 and is ranked 3rd. Maheesh Theekshana (Sri Lanka) has a rating of 652 and is ranked 10th. Lungi Ngidi moved up 14 spots in the rankings, while Arshdeep Singh (India) is ranked 9th with a rating of 653. Ravi Bishnoi (India) is ranked 7th with a rating of 674.
As of August 13, 2025, the top 10 players in the ICC T20I batting rankings are Abhishek Sharma (India), Tilak Varma (India), Phil Salt (England), Travis Head (Australia), Jos Buttler (England), Suryakumar Yadav (India), Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka), Tim Seifert (New Zealand), Josh Inglis (Australia), and Tim David (Australia).
Tim David moved up six spots in the rankings, breaking into the top ten for the first time in his career. Other notable movements include Ryan Rickelton moving up 45 spots in the ICC T20I batting rankings, and Ben Dwarshuis, an Australian left-arm quick, moving up 60 spots in the ICC T20I bowling rankings. Adam Zampa (Australia) has a rating of 686 and is ranked 5th in the ICC T20I bowler rankings. Aaron Hardie (Australia) dropped 4 spots in the ICC T20I all-rounder rankings.
In the bowling rankings, Jacob Duffy (New Zealand) has a rating of 717 and is ranked 1st, while Varun Chakravarthy (India) has a rating of 706 and is ranked 4th. Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) has a rating of 664 and is ranked 8th, and Glenn Maxwell (Australia) dropped 7 spots in the ICC T20I batting rankings.
Brevis's remarkable performance and subsequent rise in the rankings underscore the potential for South African cricket in the T20 format. As he continues to develop and hone his skills, Brevis could become a key player for South Africa in the global T20 arena.
Dewald Brevis's T20I performance against Australia, resulting in the highest individual T20I score by a South African, placed him among the leading T20I batters globally, as he climbed to the 12th position in the ICC men’s T20I batting rankings by August 20, 2025. This news marked a significant shift in the sports world, highlighting the potential for cricket within South Africa's team.
