Shubman Gill dethrones Babar Azam in ICC Rankings, becomes the Number 1 ODI batsman
Published - 19 Feb 2025, 01:51 PM | Updated - 19 Feb 2025, 11:34 PM
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Indian batting sensation Shubman Gill has dethroned Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam to become the world's number one ODI batter ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Previously, Shubman Gill was at the second spot with a rating of 781, while Babar Azam led the rankings with 786 points.
But his sensational performances during India’s 3-0 ODI series win over England recently at home helped him to make a massive 23-point jump in the latest ICC Men’s ODI Batter Rankings. This jump saw him overtaking Babar Azam to become the world’s No. 1 ODI batter.
Shubman Gill’s heroics against England helped him to create history
The right-handed batter was in outstanding form during India's recent three-match ODI series against England. In the first match at Nagpur’s VCA Stadium on February 6, the Punjab lad played a solid knock of 87 runs off 96 balls. He followed it up with a quick 60 off 52 balls in the second ODI against England at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.
Well, Gill saved his best for the third and final ODI at the Narendra Modi Stadium Ahmedabad, where he played a brilliant knock of 112 runs to play crucial role in India’s clean sweep against England. On the back of this remarkable performance, Gill has yet again dominated the ICC ODI Rankings.
Shubman Gill surpasses Babar Azam to become No. 1 ODI batter
Now, the 25-year-old has 796 rating points, edging past Babar’s 773 to reclaim the top spot in the ICC Men’s ODI Batter Rankings. Earlier, Gill made it to the top of the ICC ODI Rankings in November 2023, and at that time also, the Indian star had surpassed the top-ranked Babar.
Gill has now become the only fourth India batter after Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and MS Dhoni to achieve the top ranking in the ICC Men’s ODI Batter Rankings. Gill’s ODI career has been outstanding so far. With seven centuries in his first 50 ODIs, India’s vice-captain now holds the record for the most hundreds by an Indian batter at this stage of their career.
Now, Babar dropped to second spot in the latest ICC Men’s ODI Batter Rankings while India skipper Rohit Sharma remained in the third spot with 761 rating points. Apart from Gill, Shreyas Iyer also jumped to the ninth spot from the tenth position after his three fifties against England. Virat Kohli also remained at the sixth spot with 727 rating points despite hitting fifty in Cuttack.
Daryl Mitchell and Charith Asalanka make big gains; Maheesh Theekshana becomes world’s No. 1 ODI bowler
On the other hand, New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell has moved up two spots to fifth place, while Sri Lanka's attacking batter Charith Asalanka has jumped eight places to reach eighth in the latest ICC Men’s ODI Batter Rankings. Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan has also made a big leap, climbing six spots to 15th with his best-ever rating of 625 points.
In the latest ICC Men’s ODI Bowling Rankings, Sri Lankan star Maheesh Theekshana outclassed Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan to become the world’s number one ODI bowler. On the other hand, Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav also made a one-spot jump and became the fourth-ranked ODI bowler.
