Shubman Gill and Maheesh Theekshana Claim No. 1 Spots in Latest ICC ODI Rankings

The latest ICC ODI rankings update has brought significant changes, with India’s Shubman Gill and Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana securing the top spots in batting and bowling, respectively. The rankings, released on the opening day of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, see Gill surpassing Pakistan’s Babar Azam to become the No. 1 ODI batter, while Theekshana has dethroned Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan to lead the bowling charts.

This marks the second time Gill has held the top ranking in ODI cricket, his previous stint at the summit coming during the 2023 ODI World Cup. Meanwhile, Theekshana’s rise to No. 1 comes after a stellar performance in Sri Lanka’s recent ODI series against Australia.

Shubman Gill's Rise to No. 1 ODI Batter

India’s young batting sensation Shubman Gill has reclaimed the No. 1 ranking in men’s ODI cricket after an outstanding series against England. The 24-year-old opener was in sensational form during the three-match home ODI series, amassing 259 runs in three innings at an average of 86.33 and a strike rate of 103.60. His scores of 87, 60, and 112 played a pivotal role in India's 3-0 series sweep over England.

Gill’s remarkable consistency saw him finish as the highest run-getter of the series, significantly ahead of his closest competitor Shreyas Iyer, who managed 181 runs. As a result, Gill’s rating points soared to 796, pushing Babar Azam down to the second spot with 773 points.

This achievement reaffirms Gill’s dominance in the 50-over format and strengthens his position as one of India’s most promising batting stars. Having previously held the No. 1 spot during the 2023 ODI World Cup, Gill has now proven his ability to maintain elite-level consistency in international cricket.

Babar Azam Slips to Second Place

Pakistan’s Babar Azam, who has been a mainstay at the top of the rankings for the past few years, has now slipped to the No. 2 position following Gill’s heroics. While Babar remains a key player for Pakistan, his recent form has not been enough to hold off Gill’s surge. With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 underway, Babar has a chance to reclaim his throne by delivering strong performances in the tournament.

Following Gill and Babar in the top five ODI batters are:

• Rohit Sharma (India)
• Heinrich Klaasen (South Africa)
• Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand) – who has moved up two places after scoring 81, 10, and 57 in the Pakistan Tri-Series.

Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka also made significant progress, jumping eight spots to No. 8 following his impressive showing in Sri Lanka’s two-match ODI series against Australia. Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan has climbed to 15th place, further highlighting his growing stature in the format.

Maheesh Theekshana Becomes No. 1 ODI Bowler

Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana has achieved a major milestone by becoming the top-ranked ODI bowler in the latest ICC rankings. The young off-spinner impressed with his performances in the two-ODI series against Australia, returning figures of 4 for 40 and 0 for 11.

Theekshana’s rise to No. 1 means that Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan has been pushed to second place. However, Rashid remains a close competitor with 669 rating points, just 11 behind Theekshana’s 680. With Rashid set to feature in the Champions Trophy, a strong campaign could see him reclaim his top spot.

The top five ODI bowlers in the updated rankings are:

1. Maheesh Theekshana (Sri Lanka) – 680 points
2. Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) – 669 points
3. Bernard Scholtz (Namibia)
4. Kuldeep Yadav (India)
5. Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan)

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner also made significant gains, moving up five spots to No. 7 after picking up five wickets in the Pakistan Tri-Series.

What’s Next?

With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 underway, the battle for supremacy in the ODI rankings will intensify. Players like Babar Azam, Rashid Khan, and Shaheen Afridi will be looking to regain lost ground, while Gill and Theekshana will aim to solidify their positions at the top.

As the tournament progresses, performances in high-pressure matches will play a crucial role in shaping the rankings. Will Gill continue his dominance, or will Babar bounce back? Can Rashid reclaim his No. 1 bowling spot from Theekshana? The Champions Trophy will provide the answers!