Former India skipper Rohit Sharma etched his name in history on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, by securing the coveted No. 1 position in the ICC Men’s ODI batter rankings for the very first time in his illustrious career.
Sharma’s ascent by two spots to the top was fueled by his spectacular unbeaten century in the third and final One Day International between India and Australia in Sydney. In a display of masterful batting, he led his side to a resounding nine-wicket triumph, a performance highlighted by the ICC.
The seasoned right-hander was in sensational form, partnering with Virat Kohli (74*), as he plundered 13 fours and three colossal sixes en route to his 33rd ODI century for India.
His extraordinary efforts saw him surpass Afghanistan’s dynamic opener Ibrahim Zadran and his Indian teammate Shubman Gill, marking his debut at the pinnacle of ODI batting. The 38-year-old has consistently remained within the top 10 for the better part of the last decade, a testament to his enduring class.
Sharma wasn’t the only Indian player to make significant strides in this week’s updated rankings. Spinner Axar Patel also saw his strong performance in Sydney rewarded with advancements in both the bowling and all-rounder categories.
Patel climbed an impressive six places to 31st among ODI bowlers, placing him behind the top-ranked Rashid Khan. He also improved four spots to reach eighth overall in the ODI all-rounder rankings, now positioned behind Azmatullah Omarzai. Among the top 10 ODI bowlers, New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner moved up three spots to fourth, and Australian seamer Josh Hazlewood gained two places to eighth.
Meanwhile, England’s hard-hitting right-hander Harry Brook leaped 23 positions to 25th overall on the list for ODI batters. The latest Test rankings also reflect notable changes following South Africa’s decisive eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in Rawalpindi. Experienced spinner Keshav Maharaj was the biggest gainer, riding on his Player of the Match heroics.
Maharaj surged nine places to achieve a new career-high rating, reaching 13th in the Test bowlers’ list after claiming nine wickets in the match. His teammate Simon Harmer also saw a significant rise, moving 26 spots to 45th after his six-wicket haul in the second innings of the same Test.
The South African batting duo of Aiden Markram (up two spots to 15th) and Tony de Zorzi (up seven places to equal 47th) were key movers in the Test batter rankings after the Rawalpindi Test. Compatriot Kagiso Rabada also improved eight rungs, reaching 11th on the list for Test all-rounders. Pakistan captain Shan Masood found some cheer, rising five spots to equal 42nd on the Test batters’ list.
Furthermore, South Africa’s dominant display in the first T20I against the same opposition in Rawalpindi led to several players gaining ground in the updated T20I rankings. South African pacer Corbin Bosch jumped 40 places to 53rd in the T20I bowlers’ list, Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz (up eight spots to sixth) moved up among T20I all-rounders, and in-form opener Saim Ayub (up five spots to 49th) saw an improvement in the batter rankings.
