Shubman Gill Secures No.1 Spot In ODI Rankings By Dethroning Babar Azam; Maheesh Theekshana Becomes Top Bowler

February 19, 2025: Shubman Gill overtook Babar Azam to claim the No.1 spot in the ODI batting rankings just ahead of their much-anticipated clash in the ongoing ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025. This shift in the rankings came after Gill’s stunning century against England during the third ODI in Ahmedabad, which propelled him past Azam, who now sits in second place, trailing by 23 rating points. India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, remains in third place, 45 points behind Gill.

This marks the second time Gill has ascended to the No.1 ranking in ODIs, having previously claimed the top spot midway through the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Alongside Gill’s rise, several other batters also made notable progress in the rankings. New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell moved up two places to fifth, while Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka surged eight places to eighth. Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan, meanwhile, reached a career-best 15th position after a rise of six places. Other notable moves include New Zealand’s Devon Conway (up five spots to 35th) and Glenn Phillips (up six spots to 41st), while Pakistan’s Salman Agha saw a remarkable 24-place rise to 48th.

In the bowling rankings, Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana ascended to the No.1 spot, overtaking Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan for the first time in his career. Theekshana’s exceptional performance, including a four-wicket haul against Australia in Sri Lanka’s home series, ensured his rise to the top spot. Rashid Khan dropped to second place, trailing by only 11 rating points. India’s Kuldeep Yadav also saw a rise, moving up to fourth in the bowling rankings, while South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj re-entered the rankings at sixth, and New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner climbed four places to seventh.

In the all-rounder category, Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi held onto his No.1 position, while Mitchell Santner gained one spot to break into the top 10, moving up to sixth.

These shifts in the ICC rankings add a new layer of excitement to the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, promising thrilling competition as the world’s top cricketers gear up for the mega event.