In a truly historic moment for Indian cricket, veteran star Rohit Sharma has ascended to the pinnacle of the ICC ODI batting rankings, claiming the world’s No. 1 spot. This remarkable achievement, coming at the age of 38 years and 182 days, makes him the oldest Indian player ever to reach this coveted position. Sharma’s spectacular rise saw him leapfrog two places, displacing his national captain, Shubman Gill.
This career-defining move for Rohit came on the back of his exceptional form during the recent One Day International series against Australia. His standout performances included a well-crafted 73 runs off 97 balls in the second ODI at Adelaide Oval, followed by an magnificent unbeaten knock of 121 runs from 125 deliveries in the third and final match held at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground.
By reaching the world No. 1 ranking, Rohit Sharma now joins an exclusive club of Indian cricketing legends. He is only the fifth Indian batter to achieve this milestone, following in the illustrious footsteps of Sachin Tendulkar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and most recently, Shubman Gill. His significantly increased rating points, up from 745 in the previous week, are a testament to these impactful innings.
The latest rankings update also brought notable shifts for other Indian batsmen. Shubman Gill, who previously held the top spot, slipped to third position after a less-than-ideal series against Australia, where he posted scores of just 10, 9, and 24 runs. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli, another pillar of Indian cricket, managed to hold onto his fifth-place ranking. Despite a challenging start to the series with two consecutive ducks, Kohli showcased his resilience in the final game at the SCG, scoring an unbeaten 74 runs from 81 balls, which saw his rating points climb from 724 to 730.