In the latest ICC rankings released on November 8, Wednesday, Shubman Gill claimed the top spot as the No.1 ODI batsman in the world, surpassing Babar Azam. Gill now boasts 830 rating points, while Babar Azam slipped to the second position with 824 points. Notably, Shubman Gill achieved this milestone in just 41 innings, making him the second-fastest player to reach the No.1 ranking, with MS Dhoni retaining the record as the fastest in 38 innings.
Shubman Gill is currently the leading run-scorer in ODIs and international cricket in 2023 and is approaching the significant milestone of 2,000 runs this year, which would make him the first batter to achieve this feat.
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Despite his top ranking, Shubman Gill hasn’t been in peak form during the ongoing World Cup. He has managed two half-centuries, including a stylish 92 against Sri Lanka, after missing India’s first two matches due to dengue.
On the bowling front, Mohammed Siraj reclaimed the No.1 ranking among ODI bowlers. He had a sensational year with the ball in ODIs, though he had a slow start in the World Cup. Siraj delivered a remarkable performance against Sri Lanka, the same team he had dominated with a six-wicket haul in the final of the Asia Cup in September.
Other notable bowlers in the top 10 of the rankings include Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Shami. However, Shaheen Shah Afridi, who briefly held the No.1 bowler position after Pakistan’s match against Bangladesh, dropped to No.5. This decline followed a challenging performance against New Zealand, where he bowled Pakistan’s most expensive spell in World Cup history.
Shaheen Shah Afridi will have an opportunity to bounce back when Pakistan faces England in their final league game at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.
