India’s veteran opener Rohit Sharma has created history by becoming the world’s No. 1 ranked ODI batter for the first time in his illustrious career, as per the latest ICC Men’s ODI Rankings released on Wednesday. At 38 years and 182 days, Rohit is now the oldest cricketer ever to achieve the top ranking, surpassing teammate and current India skipper Shubman Gill.
The milestone came after Rohit’s unbeaten century (121)* in the third and final ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where India cruised to a dominant nine-wicket victory. His sublime innings, studded with 13 fours and three sixes, guided India to a 2-1 series win and earned him the Player of the Series award.
Rohit’s Remarkable Run of Form
The Mumbai-born right-hander’s resurgence with the bat has been nothing short of extraordinary. Across the three-match ODI series, Rohit amassed 202 runs at an average of 101, including two half-centuries and a match-winning hundred. His consistency saw him leapfrog Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran and teammate Gill to secure the top spot with 781 rating points — his career-best tally.
Rohit’s achievement adds another golden chapter to his storied career, making him the fifth Indian batter after Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill to hold the No. 1 ODI ranking.
Gill, Kohli, and Iyer Among Top 10
While Rohit surged to the top, Gill dropped to third after a lean series (scores of 10, 9, and 24). Ibrahim Zadran sits second with 764 points, while Virat Kohli remains steady in sixth with 725 points, following his unbeaten 74 in Sydney*. Shreyas Iyer climbed one place to ninth, courtesy of his earlier fifty in Adelaide.
Rohit, who had 745 points last week, gained massive ground thanks to his knocks of 73 (97) in Adelaide and 121 (125) in Sydney.
Other Ranking Movements
India’s Axar Patel also enjoyed a ranking boost, climbing six places to 31st among bowlers and four places to eighth among all-rounders, after a strong showing in the series decider.
Globally, New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner moved up to fourth among ODI bowlers, while Australia’s Josh Hazlewood rose to eighth. England’s Harry Brook made one of the biggest jumps, rising 23 places to 25th in the ODI batting charts.
In Test cricket, South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj surged nine places to a career-best 13th after his match-winning nine-wicket haul against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. Teammates Simon Harmer and Aiden Markram also gained ground, while Pakistan’s Shan Masood rose five spots to equal 42nd.
In T20Is, South Africa’s Corbin Bosch climbed 40 places to 53rd among bowlers, and Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz entered the top 10 all-rounders, moving up to sixth.
A Fitting Milestone for the Hitman
Having led India to the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup, Rohit’s return to the top of the batting charts reaffirms his legacy as one of the most consistent and destructive openers in modern cricket.
Speaking after the match, Rohit said, “It’s always special to contribute to India’s wins, but reaching No. 1 at this stage of my career feels incredibly rewarding. I’ve always believed in staying hungry and enjoying the game.”
With this feat, Rohit Sharma not only cements his status among cricket’s modern greats but also continues to inspire a new generation of cricketers with his class, leadership, and unrelenting passion for the game.
