Lagatar24 Desk
Indian opener Rohit Sharma has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the world’s No. 1 ODI batter in the latest ICC Men’s ODI Rankings, overtaking teammate and current India captain Shubman Gill. At 38 years and 182 days, Rohit is now the oldest player ever to hold the top spot in ODI batting rankings.
Dominant Performance Against Australia
Rohit’s stellar series against Australia propelled him to the top. His unbeaten 121 off 125 balls in the final ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground sealed India’s 2–1 series win and earned him the Player of the Series award. In three matches, the veteran opener amassed 202 runs at an astonishing average of 101, displaying his trademark combination of elegance and aggression.
His dominant knock — featuring 13 fours and three sixes — alongside Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 74, helped India chase down the target with ease. The series win and Rohit’s form also silenced critics questioning his role in India’s limited-overs setup post the 2023 World Cup.
Rohit’s Rise and Ranking Shifts
Rohit’s consistency saw him climb two spots to claim the top ranking with 781 points, surpassing Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran (764) and Gill (745). His recent scores of 73 in Adelaide and 121 in Sydney* played a key role in his ranking surge.
Other Indian players also made gains — Axar Patel rose to 31st among bowlers and eighth among all-rounders, following his strong all-round performance in Sydney. Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer entered the top 10 ODI batters list, moving up to ninth position.
Global Ranking Movements
Outside the Indian camp, several international stars made notable progress. Mitchell Santner climbed to fourth among ODI bowlers, Josh Hazlewood moved up to eighth, and England’s Harry Brook jumped 23 spots to reach 25th among ODI batters. In Test rankings, South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj and Aiden Markram achieved career-best positions, while Pakistan’s Shan Masood rose to 42nd.
With this achievement, Rohit joins an elite list of Indian greats — Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill — who have all held the No. 1 ODI batting spot at various points in their careers.
