In a significant development in the cricketing world, India’s Shubman Gill has dethroned Pakistan’s Babar Azam as the number one One Day International (ODI) batter in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Batting Rankings. Gill’s rise to the top spot comes after a series of impressive performances, particularly during India’s ongoing campaign at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
With this achievement, Gill becomes the fourth Indian player to hold the coveted number-one position in the ODI rankings, joining the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli.
The ICC rankings undergo weekly updates, released every Wednesday. Currently, Gill occupies the top spot with 830 points, while Babar closely follows at the second position with 824 points.
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Gill’s compatriot Virat Kohli has also made significant progress, securing the fourth spot in the rankings. Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman has also climbed the ranks, currently sitting at the 11th position following his outstanding performance against New Zealand.
The bowling rankings have also witnessed a major shake-up. India’s Mohammed Siraj has dethroned Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi, who held the number one position last week. Afridi now shares the fifth position with Australia’s Josh Hazlewood, trailing behind India’s Kuldeep Yadav, Australia’s Adam Zampa, and South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj.
In the all-rounder rankings, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan maintains his dominance, despite being forced out of the World Cup due to an injury. However, Australia’s Glenn Maxwell has made a notable two-spot improvement, securing the sixth position following his match-winning heroics against Afghanistan in Mumbai.
Babar Azam has scored multiple half-centuries in the ongoing ICC ODI Men’s World Cup 2023. His fan, however, are waiting for him to play big innings in the World Cup 2023. His captaincy is also under question as Pakistan is struggling to qualify for the semi-finals.