For the first time in his illustrious career, Rohit Sharma has ascended to the summit of the ICC Men’s ODI batting rankings, marking another golden chapter in Indian cricket’s modern era.
The 38-year-old opener surged two spots to the top following his scintillating unbeaten century (121*) in India’s nine-wicket victory over Australia in the third and final ODI at Sydney. The knock, laced with 13 boundaries and three towering sixes, saw him lead India’s chase in imperious fashion alongside Virat Kohli, who struck an unbeaten 74.
Rohit’s feat comes after over a decade of consistency, having remained a fixture in the ICC’s top 10 ODI batters for most of the past ten years. He overtook Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran and India’s Shubman Gill to claim the top position for the very first time.
The former India captain now joins an elite list of Indian greats who have held the No.1 ODI batting spot, a testament to his longevity and dominance in the format. His 33rd ODI century spotlighted the effortless authority that has defined his career.
Also read: From glory to silence: Rohit Sharma’s ODI captaincy saga
Other Indian players also benefitted from the updated ICC rankings. All-rounder Axar Patel jumped six places to 31st among bowlers, following a disciplined performance in Sydney, and climbed four spots to eighth among ODI all-rounders, trailing Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai.
The latest update brought movement across the charts, with New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner rising three places to fourth in the ODI bowlers’ list and Australia’s Josh Hazlewood moving up to eighth. England’s Harry Brook, too, made strides, climbing 23 places to 25th among ODI batters.
In Test cricket, South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj enjoyed a career-best 13th spot after his match-winning nine-wicket haul against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. Teammate Simon Harmer gained 26 places to 45th, while Aiden Markram and Tony de Zorzi made notable progress among batters.
The rankings update reinforced Rohit Sharma’s enduring brilliance and India’s sustained presence across formats, a sign of both stability and strength as the team builds towards future international challenges.
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