Shubman Gill surges to top of ODI Rankings, outshining Babar Azam

In a remarkable display of batting prowess, Indian opener Shubman Gill has once again claimed the title of the world’s No. 1 ODI batsman. This achievement comes on the heels of his stellar performance in the recent three-match ODI series against England. Gill scored an impressive 259 runs at an average of 86.33, including two half-centuries and a century, all at his favored Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. His performance has pushed him past former Pakistan captain Babar Azam, securing Gill a rating of 796 points, 23 points ahead of Babar.

This marks the second occasion that Gill has overtaken Babar in the ICC ODI rankings, with the first being during the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, Babar has an immediate opportunity to reclaim his position as the Champions Trophy kicks off on Wednesday, February 19. Babar’s recent form in a tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa wasn’t as potent, accumulating only 62 runs over three matches, which contributed to his drop in the rankings.

Meanwhile, Indian captain Rohit Sharma holds the No. 3 spot, trailing Gill by 45 points. Despite a century in the second ODI in Cuttack, a low score in the series finale saw him unable to challenge Gill’s lead. Gill’s contributions included scores of 87 and 60 in the first two matches, culminating in a breathtaking century in the final game, further solidifying his reputation at the Ahmedabad venue.