Shubman Gill set to kick Babar Azam off the top of ICC ODI Rankings

In a significant development, the latest ICC Men's ODI Player Rankings have intensified the competition for the top batter spot. Team India skipper Rohit Sharma and opener Shubman Gill are closing in on Pakistan batter Babar Azam, who currently holds the No.1 ranking in the ICC Men's ODI Player Rankings.

Team India has been performing well in white-ball cricket in the England series. The home team secured victories over England in the first two games of the three-match ODI series. The Indian team was especially hoping to see their top batters, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, regain their form during the series.

Shubman Gill Nears No.1 ODI Spot, Virat Kohli Slips to No.6

Shubman Gill moved closer to the No. 1 spot in the ICC ODI batting rankings on February 12. The young batter, in excellent form during the ODI series, climbed to second place, surpassing Rohit Sharma. Gill's rating has increased to 781 points, just behind Babar Azam, who remains at the top with 786 points.

Rohit Sharma helped India secure a dominant victory with a century in the second ODI. Despite his outstanding performance, he slipped to third place in the ICC rankings. Virat Kohli dropped two spots to sixth after his poor showing in the second ODI. Ireland's Harry Tector moved up to replace him at No. 4.

Shreyas Iyer has moved up to the top 10 in the ICC ODI rankings, securing the No. 10 spot after his quick half-century against England in the first ODI. Australian Steve Smith also climbed to No. 14.

Other notable players like Fakhar Zaman (13th), Kane Williamson (29th), Jos Buttler (38th), Devon Conway (joint 40th), and Joe Root (51st) have also made gains in the latest ODI rankings, following recent returns to 50-over cricket.

Tight Race for Top Spots in ODI Bowling Rankings

The ODI bowling rankings are closely contested, with just 18 rating points separating the top five players. Rashid Khan holds the top spot, followed by Maheesh Theekshana, Bernard Scholtz, Shaheen Afridi, and Kuldeep Yadav.

India's ODI bowlers experienced a drop in the latest rankings update. Kuldeep, who didn't play the second ODI against England, dropped to 5th. Mohammed Siraj, who was left out of the ODI squad, dropped four spots to 10th. Siraj remains India's highest-ranked pacer, with Mohammed Shami placed 13th.

Afghanistan’s all-rounder Mohammad Nabi remains at the top in ODIs, while New Zealand's Mitchell Santner has risen to 7th.

Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli’s Rankings Set to Improve After 3rd ODI

Shubman Gill scored a remarkable 100 in the third ODI against England. Virat Kohli also made a comeback with a 52 in the same match, which is expected to improve his rankings.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma's early dismissal for 1 could cause him to drop a position. The next ICC rankings update is scheduled for February 19, coinciding with the start of the 2025 Champions Trophy in Lahore.

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