Shubman Gill Overtakes Babar Azam to Claim No. 1 Spot in ICC ODI Rankings

In a significant shift in the ICC Men's ODI Rankings, Shubman Gill has dethroned Pakistan's Babar Azam to become the No. 1 ranked batter in the world. This promotion comes after Gill's stellar performance in India's 3-0 series sweep against England in their recent home series.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the updated rankings just before the start of the eagerly awaited Champions Trophy in Karachi, with the opening match between Pakistan and New Zealand. Gill’s strong run with the bat saw him jump one place to secure the top ranking, now with 796 rating points, while Babar Azam holds the second spot with 773 points.

India's Rohit Sharma remains firmly positioned at No. 3 with 761 points, followed by South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen in fourth and New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell in fifth. 

A KEY MOMENT AHEAD OF CHAMPIONS TROPHY

The rankings shake-up sets the stage for an exciting narrative as the Champions Trophy unfolds in Pakistan and Dubai. The competition could see further movements among these top players as the tournament progresses.

This marks the second time that Shubman Gill has achieved the No. 1 ranking in the ODI format, having briefly reached the top spot during the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. His recent consistency, which included two half-centuries and a century against England, has cemented his place as one of the premier batters in world cricket.

MAHEESH THEEKSHANA CLAIMS NO. 1 SPOT IN ICC ODI BOWLING RANKINGS

Meanwhile, in the ICC ODI bowling rankings, Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana has overtaken Afghanistan's Rashid Khan to claim the top position. Theekshana's rise to the top is attributed to his remarkable performances in Sri Lanka’s 2-0 series win over Australia, which included a standout four-wicket haul in the opening match.

With 680 rating points, Theekshana now leads Rashid Khan by a mere 11 points, as the Afghan spinner drops to No. 2. Namibia's Bernard Scholtz remains in third, while India's Kuldeep Yadav rises to fourth, with Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi completing the top five.

RISING SPINNERS AND KEY PERFORMANCES

The rankings also feature notable movements among other bowlers. Kuldeep Yadav's steady performance sees him climb one spot to No. 4, while Keshav Maharaj of South Africa re-enters the top 10, sitting at No. 6. New Zealand's Mitchell Santner also made an impressive rise, jumping four places to No. 7. 

In the all-rounder category, Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi continues to lead the rankings, followed by Sikandar Raza, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Rashid Khan. 

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY

As the Champions Trophy begins, the shake-up in the rankings adds intrigue to the competition, with several players looking to strengthen their positions and others aiming to reclaim their former glory. The upcoming weeks are sure to offer plenty of exciting cricket action.