India’s vice-captain, Shubman Gill, has reached a significant milestone by claiming the No. 1 spot in the ICC ODI Rankings for batters, dethroning Pakistan’s Babar Azam. This remarkable achievement comes as a result of Gill’s consistent and impressive performances in the recent home series against England.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) released its latest rankings just ahead of the much-anticipated Champions Trophy, an eight-team tournament set to begin in Karachi with an opening match between Pakistan and New Zealand.
In its official statement, the ICC confirmed Gill’s rise to the top of the rankings. “India right-hander Shubman Gill overtakes former Pakistan captain Babar Azam to become the top-ranked ODI batter in the world,” the ICC announced.
Gill’s outstanding performances in the three-match ODI series against England, where he registered two half-centuries and a century, played a crucial role in his ascent in the rankings. India convincingly won the series 3-0, and Gill’s contributions were instrumental in securing the victories. As a result of his performances, Gill climbed one spot in the rankings, accumulating a total of 796 rating points, surpassing Babar Azam, who now holds 773 points.
The rankings update also saw Indian skipper Rohit Sharma secure the third position with 761 points. South Africa’s Henrich Klaasen and New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell follow in fourth and fifth places, respectively.
According to the ICC, this reshuffling in the rankings adds an intriguing subplot ahead of the Champions Trophy. “It’s a major shake-up at the top of the rankings just before the start of the Champions Trophy and leaves an interesting sub-plot to what will transpire over the coming weeks during the eight-team tournament in Pakistan and Dubai,” the ICC noted.
This marks the second occasion that Shubman Gill has reached the No.1 position in the ODI rankings. He previously claimed the top spot during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2023, surpassing Babar Azam at that time as well. The governing body further highlighted Gill’s recent form, stating, “Gill has been in excellent form of late, with his century against England in Ahmedabad during the third ODI of the recently concluded series enough to catapult the 25-year-old to the top of the rankings.”
Meanwhile, in the bowlers’ rankings, Sri Lanka’s Mahesh Theekshana has ascended to the No. 1 spot in the ICC ODI rankings for bowlers, replacing Afghanistan’s captain Rashid Khan. Theekshana’s brilliant performance in Sri Lanka’s recent series against Australia was a key factor in this rise, including an exceptional four-wicket haul in the opening match played in Colombo.
Sri Lanka, despite not participating in the upcoming Champions Trophy, managed to secure a 2-0 whitewash over Australia, with Theekshana playing a crucial role by claiming four wickets across the series.
With 680 rating points, Theekshana leads the ODI bowlers’ rankings, followed closely by Rashid Khan in second place. Namibia’s Bernard Scholtz occupies the third position, India’s Kuldeep Yadav has climbed to fourth, and Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi rounds out the top five.
The ICC remarked on Rashid Khan’s recent slip in rankings, stating, “Meanwhile, Afghan spin wizard Rashid drops to second and will be keen to regain the No.1 spot as he trails his Sri Lankan counterpart by just 11 rating points.”
Several other spinners have made notable advancements in the rankings. Kuldeep Yadav, who moved up one place to fourth, has been in excellent form for India. South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj has re-entered the rankings at sixth, while New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner has made significant progress, climbing four places to seventh.
On the all-rounders’ front, Afghanistan’s veteran cricketer Mohammad Nabi continues to hold the top position in the ODI all-rounder rankings. He is followed by Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza, Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai, Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Rashid Khan, who completes the top five.
The latest ICC rankings update reflects the dynamic and competitive nature of international cricket, with players from various nations striving to make an impact ahead of the much-awaited Champions Trophy. Fans and analysts will be closely watching how these rankings evolve as the tournament progresses.
