• Australia have retained their top spot in Test cricket

  • India dominated the ODI and T20I rankings.

India and Australia dominate the ICC Annual Rankings 2025
India and Australia dominate the ICC Annual Rankings 2025 (Image source: X)

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released its annual team rankings for 2025, showcasing shifting power dynamics across all formats of the men’s game. While Australia retained its supremacy in the Test format, India reinforced its dominance in both white-ball formats — ODIs and T20Is.

The yearly update, which fully counts matches played since May 2024 and weighs older results at 50%, saw significant reshuffles, with England and Sri Lanka emerging as big movers. As the cricketing world evolves, these rankings highlight how nations are recalibrating their strategies to stay ahead.

Australia holds the top spot in Test cricket

Australia’s grip on the Test mace remains unshaken, with Pat Cummins’ men staying at the summit with a solid 126 rating points. Though their lead has narrowed slightly — from 15 to 13 points — they continue to assert dominance as World Test Championship holders. Meanwhile, England’s resurgence under Ben Stokes has been one of the most notable developments. With three Test series victories in the last year, England have leapfrogged South Africa and India to seize the second spot with a rating of 113.

India, despite slipping to fourth with 105 points, remains a formidable force, while South Africa dropped to third. The rest of the top 10 saw no changes in team order, with New Zealand holding steady at fifth and Sri Lanka showing encouraging consistency in sixth. Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe round off the rankings, while Ireland and Afghanistan still need more matches to qualify for a position.

Also READ: Bangladesh appoints new T20I captain ahead of their tour to UAE and Pakistan

India retains supremacy in white-ball cricket 

India have underlined their white-ball prowess, sitting comfortably atop both the ODI and T20I rankings. Their recent ICC Champions Trophy 2025 triumph bolstered their ODI rating to 124, extending the gap over runners-up New Zealand. Australia, while slipping to third in ODIs, still maintain a strong presence across formats. However, the biggest winners this year are Sri Lanka. Buoyed by recent ODI series wins against India and Australia, they jumped to fourth in ODIs and seventh in T20Is, reflecting a well-rounded resurgence.

In T20Is, India — the reigning world champions — continue to lead, albeit with a slightly reduced margin over second-placed Australia. England sit comfortably at third, maintaining a solid position across all three formats. The T20I rankings now include 100 teams, a historic first, with newcomers like Canada making significant rating gains and teams like Bahamas and Estonia showing impressive positional improvement.

The white-ball shake-up also saw Afghanistan rise in ODIs to seventh and hold their spot in the T20I top 10. Pakistan, West Indies, and Bangladesh shuffled slightly, while England’s slip to eighth in ODIs underscores their recent inconsistency. Meanwhile, USA’s six-point gain, though not improving their ODI position beyond 15th, points to growing competitiveness among associate nations.

Also READ: Sikandar Raza returns, Vincent Masekesa left out as Zimbabwe name squad for one-off Test against England

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About the Author:
Akash Thapa is a dedicated cricket journalist with three years of experience in the media industry. A BA (JMC) graduate from VIPS, GGSIPU, and a postgraduate in MAJMC from the University of Lucknow, Akash combines his academic credentials with a deep-rooted passion for cricket.His background as a former junior-level wrestler and cricketer enriches his insightful analysis and commentary on the game. Known for his inventive approach to writing and his commitment to capturing the nuances of cricket, Akash is a true aficionado of the sport.Connect with Akash on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram.