Shubman Gill has achieved a significant milestone in the world of cricket, securing the coveted No.1 ODI batter ranking. This remarkable feat places him in esteemed company, as only three other Indian cricketers, namely Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli, have previously held this prestigious position.
Gill's ascendancy to the top spot marks the end of Babar Azam's reign as the No.1 ODI batter in the world. The latest ICC men's batting rankings, released on Wednesday, confirmed Gill's new status, which was earned through his outstanding performance in the 2023 World Cup.
The right-handed batsman, who had been closely pursuing Babar for some time, showcased his prowess by scoring 92 runs against Sri Lanka and 23 against South Africa in the past week. In total, he has amassed 219 runs from six innings during the tournament. Gill's journey to the top spot faced a setback as he missed India's first two matches in the World Cup against Australia and Afghanistan due to a battle with dengue.
Babar Azam, on the other hand, accumulated 282 runs from eight innings during the World Cup. Despite his impressive performance, he now finds himself in the second position in the rankings, six rating points behind Gill. Currently, Shubman Gill boasts a rating of 830, while Babar Azam holds 824 rating points, closely followed by South Africa's Quinton de Kock with 771 rating points.
