Thursday 28 / November / 2024
New Delhi: India's in-form batter Shubman Gill is just 10 points from surpassing Pakistan's Babar Azam to achieve the top spot at the ICC ODI ranking.
Gill was in outstanding touch during the first two matches of the ODI series against Australia, with the in-form opener having amassed a total of 178 runs in the opening two contests.
The right-handed batter got a new career-high rating on the revised list for ODI batters after scoring a quickfire 74 in the series-opening game in Mohali and following that up by compiling his sixth career ODI century in Indore.
Gill now has a total of 847 rating points and is just 10 rating points behind Babar ahead of the start of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup on October 5.
With Pakistan not scheduled to play an official ODI match until their World Cup opener and Gill set to sit out India's final clash of their series against Australia, it means Babar will enter this year's tournament with the top ranking.
The race between Babar and Gill at the top of the batter rankings will continue to be closely watched throughout the six weeks of the World Cup, with the pair holding a massive lead over their nearest challengers.
South Africa hard-hitter Rassie van der Dussen (743 rating points) is third on the batter rankings and more than 100 points of the leading duo, while Ireland young gun Harry Tector rises to fourth and a new career-high rating despite the fact much of his side's ODI series against England was affected by rain.
India duo Shreyas Iyer (up eight places to 30th) and KL Rahul (up six spots to 33rd) have also moved up the rankings following impressive performances against Australia, while teammate Mohammed Siraj maintains a narrow lead at the top of the list for ODI bowlers.
Siraj rose to the top on the back of his six-wicket haul during the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka earlier this month and holds an 11-point lead over Australia seamer Josh Hazlewood at the top of the rankings.
Just 55 rating points separate the top 10 players on the ODI bowler rankings, with experienced Australia spinner Adam Zampa improving one place to seventh on the back of his three wickets from the opening two matches against India.
India pacer Mohammed Shami (up nine spots to equal 25th) and Australia counterpart Sean Abbott (up 14 places to equal 45th) also made some ground in the latest rankings update.
Bangladesh quick Mustafizur Rahman improved five spots to 23rd after five wickets in his side's ODI series against New Zealand.
