New Delhi, February 19, 2025 – Indian opener Shubman Gill has officially claimed the No.1 spot in the ICC ODI batsman rankings, overtaking Pakistan’s former captain Babar Azam. The latest rankings, released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday, confirm Gill’s rise to the top with 796 rating points, while Babar has dropped to second place with 773 points.
This achievement comes on the eve of India’s opening match against Bangladesh in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, with the tournament officially kicking off today with Pakistan facing New Zealand.
Gill Leads India’s Dominance in Top 10 ODI Batsmen
The Top 10 ODI batsmen rankings now feature four Indian players, demonstrating India’s batting dominance in world cricket.
✔ Shubman Gill – No.1 (796 points)
✔ Rohit Sharma – No.3
✔ Virat Kohli – No.6
✔ Shreyas Iyer – No.9
South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen and New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell hold the No.4 and No.5 positions, respectively.
Gill’s Phenomenal Form Continues
This marks the second time Gill has reached the No.1 ODI ranking, having first overtaken Babar Azam during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. The young opener has been in sensational form, recently scoring a century (112 runs) against England in Ahmedabad during a three-match ODI series, where he amassed 259 runs in total.
India’s dominant 3-0 series win over England also saw Shreyas Iyer scoring 181 runs in three matches, while Rohit Sharma added a century to his name, further strengthening India’s top-order performance.
Mahesh Theekshana Becomes No.1 ODI Bowler
In the bowler rankings, Sri Lankan spinner Mahesh Theekshana has overtaken Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan to become the world’s No.1 ODI bowler.
✔ Mahesh Theekshana – No.1 (680 points)
✔ Rashid Khan – No.2 (669 points)
✔ Bernard Scholtz (Namibia) – No.3 (662 points)
India’s Kuldeep Yadav has climbed to No.4 with 652 points, while Mohammed Siraj remains in the Top 10 at No.10. Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi has slipped to No.5 after losing one spot.
A New Era in World Cricket Rankings
With Gill leading the ODI batsman rankings and Theekshana emerging as the top-ranked bowler, the latest ICC rankings reflect a major shift in global cricket dominance. As India prepares for its ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, all eyes will be on Shubman Gill to maintain his stellar form and guide India to success.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
