Dubai, Oct 29 (PTI) — Former India skipper Rohit Sharma has claimed the top spot in the ICC Men's ODI batter rankings for the first time in his illustrious career.
The 38-year-old Rohit made history by rising two places in the rankings after his sublime unbeaten century (121 not out) in the third and final ODI against Australia in Sydney, where he led India to a commanding nine-wicket victory.
Displaying his exceptional batting prowess, the experienced right-hander was in a menacing form alongside fellow Indian legend Virat Kohli, who remained unbeaten on 74. Rohit struck 13 fours and three massive sixes, scoring his 33rd ODI century for India.
Rohit's remarkable performance allowed him to surpass Afghanistan's hard-hitter Ibrahim Zadran and his Indian teammate Shubman Gill, enabling him to claim the top ranking for ODI batters for the first time, having been a consistent presence within the top 10 over the past decade.
Rohit was not the only Indian player to advance in the latest rankings update, as spinner Axar Patel was also rewarded for a standout performance in Sydney. He climbed six spots to reach 31st place, trailing behind the No.1 ranked Rashid Khan for ODI bowlers, and improved four positions to eighth overall among ODI all-rounders, just behind Azmatullah Omarzai.
In the top 10 rankings for ODI bowlers, New Zealand's spinner Mitchell Santner made gains by moving up three places to fourth, and Australian seamer Josh Hazlewood advanced two spots to eighth. Meanwhile, England's right-hander Harry Brook soared 23 places to 25th overall among ODI batters.
On the Test rankings front, following South Africa's impressive eight-wicket win over Pakistan in Rawalpindi, spinner Keshav Maharaj emerged as the biggest beneficiary. Maharaj climbed nine places to reach a career-high 13th position on the Test bowlers list after claiming nine wickets. Teammate Simon Harmer also improved his ranking by 26 spots, securing 45th place after a notable six-wicket haul in the second innings of the same match.
South African duo Aiden Markram (up two places to 15th) and Tony de Zorzi (up seven places to share 47th) were significant movers in the Test batters rankings after the Rawalpindi Test, with teammate Kagiso Rabada jumping eight places to secure 11th on the Test all-rounders list.
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