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Shubman Gill Closing in on Babar Azam’s Top ODI Batting Ranking
India’s Shubman Gill narrows the gap with Pakistan’s Babar Azam in ODI batting rankings, setting the stage for a World Cup showdown.
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Shubman Gill Advances Towards the Summit of ODI Batting Rankings
In the world of One Day International (ODI) cricket, the tussle for the top spot in the batting rankings is heating up. Pakistan’s Babar Azam, who has long dominated the position, now faces fierce competition from India’s rising star, Shubman Gill.
During India’s ongoing ODI series against Australia, Gill has displayed exceptional form. He has notched up a remarkable total of 178 runs across the first two matches of the series, showcasing his prowess as an opener.
Gill’s impressive batting performance commenced with a blazing 74 runs in the series opener in Mohali. This was swiftly followed by the sixth ODI century of his career, achieved in Indore. This remarkable achievement has propelled him to a career-high rating on the latest ODI batting rankings update.
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Currently, Shubman Gill holds a total of 847 rating points, trailing Babar Azam by a mere 10 points. As the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup approaches on October 5th, cricket enthusiasts can anticipate an intense competition for the top spot.
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Notably, Babar Azam is set to enter this year’s World Cup as the top-ranked ODI batter, as Pakistan is not scheduled to play any official ODI matches until the tournament kicks off. However, the race between Babar and Gill will remain a focal point throughout the six weeks of the World Cup, with both players holding a substantial lead over their closest rivals.
South African power-hitter Rassie van der Dussen, with 743 rating points, currently stands third in the batting rankings, but trails the leading duo by over 100 points. Meanwhile, Ireland’s young talent, Harry Tector, has risen to fourth place, achieving a career-high rating, despite the rain interruptions affecting much of Ireland’s ODI series against England.
India’s Shreyas Iyer (up eight places to 30th) and KL Rahul (up six spots to 33rd) have also climbed the rankings following their commendable performances against Australia. In the ODI bowling rankings, India’s Mohammed Siraj maintains his lead, gained from his remarkable six-wicket haul during the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka earlier this month. He currently holds an 11-point lead over Australia’s Josh Hazlewood, despite his absence in the ongoing ODI series against Australia.
The ODI bowler rankings display intense competition, with just 55 rating points separating the top 10 players. Seasoned Australian spinner Adam Zampa has moved up one spot to seventh after taking three wickets in the first two matches against India.
India’s Mohammed Shami (up nine spots to equal 25th) and Australia’s Sean Abbott (up 14 places to equal 45th) have also made notable advancements in the latest rankings update. Bangladesh’s quick bowler, Mustafizur Rahman, has risen five spots to 23rd following his impressive performance, taking five wickets in his side’s ODI series against New Zealand.
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