India’s veteran opener Rohit Sharma has made history by attaining the No. 1 spot in the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings at the age of 38 years and 182 days, becoming the oldest batter to achieve this milestone.
He dethroned current India captain Shubman Gill, who had a below-par Australia tour.
This marks Rohit’s first reign at the top of the ODI batting charts, a remarkable achievement for a player in the later stages of his international career.
Stellar Performance in Australia
Rohit’s ascent comes after a brilliant return to the 50-over format during India’s three-match ODI series against Australia. He scored 202 runs in three innings, including a century in the Sydney decider, leading India to a nine-wicket victory.
That innings was Rohit’s 33rd ODI century and 50th international hundred, adding to his long list of career records.
Record-Breaking Milestones
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Oldest No. 1 ODI batter: Surpassed Sachin Tendulkar, who last held the top spot at 38 years and 73 days in 2011.
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Most runs as India opener: Surpassed Virender Sehwag with 15,758 runs across formats as an opener.
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Most hundreds as India opener: Drew level with Tendulkar’s 45 international hundreds as an opener.
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Most ODI hundreds vs Australia: Equalled Tendulkar with 9 centuries in just 49 innings.
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Second-oldest Indian to score ODI hundred: Scored his Sydney ton at 38 years and 178 days, second only to Tendulkar.
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Most ODI hundreds in SENA countries: Extended tally to 14 hundreds, the highest by any visiting batter in those conditions.
ICC Rankings Update
With his recent performance, Rohit gained 36 rating points, moving from 741 to 781 points, surpassing Shubman Gill. Gill, who had held the top ranking since late 2023, now sits third, behind Rohit and Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran.
Previously, Rohit had reached career-best No. 2 in the 2019 World Cup, where he scored a record five centuries and achieved a peak rating of 882 points.
Longevity and Legacy
Rohit Sharma’s resurgence at a stage when most cricketers have retired highlights his exceptional class, fitness, and consistency, reaffirming his position among modern cricket’s elite players. His achievements continue to set benchmarks for Indian and international cricket alike.
