Babar Azam’s reign as the world’s No.1 ODI batter has come to an end as India’s rising star, Shubman Gill, has claimed the top spot in the latest MRF Tyres ICC Men’s Batting Rankings. Gill’s solid performance in India’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup campaign has propelled him to the pinnacle, making him the fourth Indian to hold the No.1 ODI batter ranking.
Gill’s impressive contributions include scores of 92 against Sri Lanka and 23 against South Africa over the past week, accumulating a total of 219 runs from six innings in the tournament.
In contrast, Babar Azam, the former No.1, has gathered 282 runs from eight innings in the World Cup, slipping six rating points below Gill to secure the second position. This shift marks the conclusion of Babar’s reign as the top-ranked ODI batter, which lasted for more than two years.
Gill’s ascent to the top and Virat Kohli’s significant jump to fourth place in the latest ODI batter rankings have created a remarkable day for India. Kohli’s rise is attributed to his outstanding performance with 543 runs at the World Cup.
Additionally, Shreyas Iyer has made a notable jump, climbing 17 places to the 18th position in the list of ODI batters. Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman has risen three places to 11th, while Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran has advanced six spots to 12th.
The top of the ODI bowler rankings has witnessed a substantial transformation during the World Cup. India now boasts four players inside the top 10, with Mohammed Siraj regaining the top position as the No.1 ranked ODI bowler. His teammates, Kuldeep Yadav (up three places to fourth), Jasprit Bumrah (up three spots to eighth), and Mohammed Shami (up seven places to 10th), all find themselves within the top 10.
South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj (up two spots to second) and Australia’s Adam Zampa (up six places to third) are among the notable climbers in the top 10. Meanwhile, the former No.1 ODI bowler, Shaheen Afridi, has dropped four places to share the fifth position with fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood.
Dilshan Madushanka, the leading wicket-taker at the World Cup, has surged 31 places to secure the 45th position in the list of ODI bowlers. Other notable movers include India’s Ravindra Jadeja (up eight places to 19th) and South Africa’s Marco Jansen (up nine spots to jointly hold the 24th position).
Despite his early exit from the World Cup due to injury, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan retains the No.1 ranking in the all-rounder category, while Australia’s Glenn Maxwell has improved two spots to sixth after his match-winning performance against Afghanistan in Mumbai.
