Indian opener Shubman Gill has officially dethroned Babar Azam as the No.1 ranked batter in the latest ICC Men’s ODI rankings, dealing a major setback to the former Pakistan captain ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025. The rankings, updated on February 19 (Wednesday), place Gill at 796 points, surpassing Babar, who now stands at 773 points.
The highly anticipated Champions Trophy 2025 is already in full swing, with Pakistan facing New Zealand in the tournament opener. Meanwhile, India is set to begin their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20 in Dubai. The spotlight is now on the blockbuster clash between India and Pakistan on February 23, where the two top-ranked batters, Shubman Gill and Babar Azam, will go head-to-head.
Shubman Gill’s Dominance in ODI Cricket
Gill’s rise to the No.1 spot comes after a stellar performance in India’s recent series against England, where he finished as the leading run-scorer with 259 runs, including two fifties and a century. His outstanding form earned him the Player of the Series award and pushed him to the top of the ICC rankings.
In contrast, Babar Azam struggled in a tri-series involving Pakistan, New Zealand, and South Africa, managing only 62 runs in three matches, which contributed to his drop in rankings.
India’s Strong Presence in ICC ODI Rankings
India continues to dominate the ICC ODI rankings with four batters in the top 10:
- Shubman Gill – No.1
- Rohit Sharma – No.3
- Virat Kohli – No.6
- Shreyas Iyer – No.9
Additionally, Kuldeep Yadav is India’s highest-ranked bowler in the ICC ODI rankings, currently placed at No.4. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana leads the bowling charts.
As the Champions Trophy 2025 unfolds, all eyes will be on Shubman Gill and Babar Azam to see how they perform under pressure and whether Babar can reclaim his top spot.
