Gill could replace Babar as No. 1 ODI batter despite World Cup absence

Shubman Gill, despite being sidelined due to dengue fever and missing India's first World Cup match against Australia, can surpass Babar Azam as the No.1 ranked ODI batter.

As of the latest ICC rankings update, Gill holds the second position with 839 points, only 18 points behind Babar Azam, the current leader with 857 points.

Babar's recent batting struggles, including a low score (10 runs) against Sri Lanka and a previous failure (5 runs) against the Netherlands in the 2023 World Cup, are likely to result in a significant drop in his rating points.

Although Gill may also lose some points for missing the World Cup opener, Babar's anticipated decline in rating points might surpass Gill's, potentially allowing the Indian batsman to claim the top spot.

The next rankings update is scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday).

However, it's probable that Shubman will be absent for India's upcoming matches against Afghanistan on Wednesday and Pakistan on Saturday.

Babar Azam's recent performances indicate a dip in form, having scored only 71 runs in his last five ODI innings after a notable 151-run innings against Nepal.