Rohit Sharma Becomes No. 1 ODI Batter for the First Time
Rohit Sharma Tops ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings
Indian opener Rohit Sharma has reached the No. 1 position in the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings for the first time in his career, following an impressive performance in the three-match ODI series against Australia.
Rohit scored 73 runs in the second ODI in Adelaide and followed it up with a match-winning, unbeaten 121 in Sydney, earning him the Player of the Series award. With these performances, he has surpassed captain Shubman Gill and Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran to reach 781 rating points — 17 points ahead of second-placed Zadran (764). Shubman Gill is in third position with 745 points. Rohit’s previous best was second place, which he first achieved in July 2018.
Ibrahim Zadran Becomes First Afghanistan Batter to Top ODI Batting Rankings (Briefly)
Earlier, Ibrahim Zadran became the first Afghanistan batter ever to top the ODI batting rankings — briefly, between the second and third ODIs against Australia — when Shubman Gill slipped below him and Rohit had not yet climbed to the top.
India’s vice-captain Shreyas Iyer scored 61 runs in the second match before getting injured in the third, helping him move up one place to ninth position. Several bowlers have also made gains in the rankings after the series.
Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has moved up two places to eighth, while leg-spinner Adam Zampa has climbed two spots to 12th. Among Indian spinners, Axar Patel has moved up six places to 31st, and Washington Sundar has jumped 22 spots to 73rd.
Other Major Changes:
England captain Harry Brook scored 135 off 101 balls in the first ODI against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui. This innings lifted him 23 places to a career-best 25th position.
Changes in Test Rankings:
In the Test rankings, Pakistan batter Saud Shakeel has moved up one place to 12th, and captain Shan Masood has climbed five spots to 42nd. South Africa’s Tony de Zorzi has also gained seven places to reach 47th position.
South African spinner Keshav Maharaj has jumped nine places to 13th after taking nine wickets in the second Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. His teammate Simon Harmer, who took six for 50 in the second innings, has surged 26 places to 45th.
