A historic rise to the top
Rohit Sharma has created history by becoming the No. 1 ranked ODI batter in the world for the first time in his career. The latest update to the ICC Men’s ODI batting rankings, announced on Wednesday, saw the former Indian captain climb two places to dethrone teammate and current captain Shubman Gill and claim the top spot at the age of 38 years and 182 days.
The achievement marks a new milestone in Rohit’s illustrious career — and a rare feat in the modern game. He is now the oldest player to ever hold the No. 1 ODI batting ranking, surpassing India legend Sachin Tendulkar, who had topped the Test charts after turning 38 in 2011.
Record-breaking series in Australia
Rohit’s ascent follows a dominant run of form in the recent ODI series against Australia. Making a strong return to the format after seven months, he finished as the highest run-scorer of the three-match series, amassing 202 runs in three innings. His unbeaten 121 in the final ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground guided India to a nine-wicket victory and a consolation win in the 3-match ODI series.
The century — his 33rd in ODIs and 50th in international cricket — pushed his rating points from 741 to 781, allowing him to leapfrog Gill and Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran. Rohit had previously reached a career-best of 882 points during the 2019 World Cup, when he scored a record five centuries.
Joining India’s elite ODI club
With this achievement, Rohit becomes only the fifth Indian batter to hold the world No. 1 ranking in ODIs, joining an exclusive list that includes Sachin Tendulkar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill.
The 38-year-old’s consistency and longevity have defined his career. Known for his ability to dominate attacks with effortless timing and patience, his latest accomplishment underlines a remarkable second wind at a stage when most cricketers have already stepped away from international competition.
Milestones and records rewritten
Rohit’s latest surge has been accompanied by a string of records. During the Australia series, he became the highest run-scorer among Indian openers across all formats, overtaking Virender Sehwag’s tally of 15,758 runs in 11 fewer innings.
He also equalled Tendulkar’s record of 45 international centuries as an opener and matched the Indian legend for the most ODI hundreds against Australia — nine each. At 38 years and 178 days, he became the second-oldest Indian to score an ODI century, behind Tendulkar’s record of 38 years and 327 days.
Rohit further extended his dominance in overseas conditions by notching his 14th ODI century in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) — the most by any visiting batter in those regions.
A legacy cemented
Rohit Sharma’s latest milestone is a testament to his enduring class and adaptability across eras of ODI cricket. After more than 17 years at the international level, his ability to perform at the highest standard as a senior player and opener has reaffirmed his status among India’s modern greats.
As the world’s top-ranked ODI batter for the first time, the veteran not only adds another accolade to his decorated career but also strengthens India’s batting dominance on the global stage.
Latest ICC ODI batting rankings (as of October 2025)
The latest ICC update revealed notable movement among the world’s top one-day batters, with India continuing to dominate the upper half of the table.
| Rank | Player | Team | Rating | Career Best |
| 1 | Rohit Sharma | India | 781 | 882 v Sri Lanka (2019) |
| 2 | Ibrahim Zadran | Afghanistan | 764 | 764 v Bangladesh (2025) |
| 3 | Shubman Gill | India | 745 | 847 v Australia (2023) |
| 4 | Babar Azam | Pakistan | 739 | 898 v West Indies (2022) |
| 5 | Daryl Mitchell | New Zealand | 734 | 751 v India (2023) |
| 6 | Virat Kohli | India | 725 | 909 v England (2018) |
| 7 | Charith Asalanka | Sri Lanka | 716 | 725 v Bangladesh (2025) |
| 8 | Harry Tector | Ireland | 708 | 767 v Afghanistan (2024) |
| 9 | Shreyas Iyer | India | 700 | 710 v New Zealand (2023) |
| 10 | Shai Hope | West Indies | 690 | 802 v Bangladesh (2019) |
