After an impressive reign of 951 days, Babar Azam’s status as the No.1 ODI batsman in the world has been overtaken by India’s Shubman Gill in the latest MRF Tyres ICC Men’s Batting Rankings. This transition marks a significant shift in the cricketing landscape.
Shubman Gill’s ascent to the top position can be attributed to his remarkable performance at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. His consistent displays with the bat, which include a notable 92 against Sri Lanka and 23 against South Africa in the past week, resulted in him amassing a total of 219 runs across six innings during the tournament. This exceptional performance follows in the footsteps of cricketing legends like Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli, making Gill the fourth Indian player to achieve the coveted No.1 ODI batting rank.
In contrast, Babar Azam, despite accumulating a total of 282 runs from eight innings at the World Cup, has dropped six rating points below Gill. This shift in rankings marks the end of Babar’s reign as the top-ranked ODI batsman, which had lasted for over two years.
Gill’s remarkable rise and Babar’s change in fortunes highlight the dynamism and competitiveness of international cricket, where emerging talents can quickly ascend to the highest ranks.
