Rohit Sharma’s 73 and unbeaten 121 in the final two one-dayers in Australia have lifted him to the top of the ICC men’s ODI batting rankings for the first time. India may have lost the series 2-1, yet the opener’s personal tally was enough to move him past Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran and team-mate Shubman Gill, ending a decade-long wait spent hovering inside the top ten.
“It’s a nice little reward,” Rohit told host broadcaster Channel Seven after the third match. “Rankings are a by-product of what the team needs. I’ll enjoy the moment, but the focus is always on winning games for India.”
Sharma, now 38, has been a fixture near the summit since the 2015 World Cup. The jump from third to first came courtesy of a 105-ball century in Perth that combined measured strike rotation with trademark lofted drives once the ball softened. Former India coach WV Raman noted on Star Sports, “Rohit is pacing innings better than ever; he dictates tempo without looking rushed.”
India’s only other significant mover is Axar Patel, rewarded for tidy all-round work. The left-arm spinner claimed a wicket in each outing and chipped in with 31 and 44, nudging six places up the bowling list to 31st and four rungs to eighth among all-rounders. “I’m enjoying the dual role,” Axar said in the post-series press conference. “Whatever the captain asks, I try to deliver.”
Across the Tasman, New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner climbed to fourth in the bowling chart after two economical displays against England, while Australia’s Josh Hazlewood edged to eighth. England still hold three bowlers in the top ten, yet the margin is narrowing.
The Test tables also shifted following Pakistan’s 1-1 draw with South Africa. Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj leapt nine spots to a career-best 13th after claiming nine wickets in Rawalpindi. Partner Simon Harmer, with 13 scalps across both matches, surged 26 places to 45th. South Africa’s Aiden Markram (now 15th) and Tony de Zorzi (joint 47th) enjoyed smaller gains among batters.
ICC analyst Andy Flower summed up the week’s movement on the governing body’s podcast: “Consistency is finally reflecting in the numbers. Whether it’s Rohit in white-ball cricket or Maharaj with the red, sustained output is being rewarded.”
Key numbers
• Rohit: first Indian since Virat Kohli (in 2022) to lead the ODI batting list.
• Axar: first time inside the top ten all-rounders.
• Santner: highest-ranked New Zealander in any discipline at present.
Full tables are available on the ICC website.
India’s next 50-over assignment is a three-match series at home against Sri Lanka in December, offering Rohit and Gill fresh opportunities to juggle positions. For now, the captain finally has the No.1 badge he has chased, almost accidentally, through sheer weight of runs.
