Shubman Gill set to dethrone Babar Azam as No. 1 ranked ODI batter

Shubman Gill looks set to dethrone Babar Azam as No.1 ranked ODI batter, as the Indian opener continues his rich vein of batting form in the ongoing ODI series against Australia.

Following the most recent ICC rankings update last Wednesday, Gill currently holds the second spot in the ICC rankings for ODI batsmen with 814 points, trailing Babar Azam, the current leader, by a mere 43 rating points (857 rating points).

Since then, Gill has scored a fluent 74 runs off 63 balls in the first ODI against Australia on Friday and played a brilliant 104-run knock from 97 balls in the second ODI on Sunday.

These two remarkable innings are likely to propel Gill to the top of the ODI batting rankings. The next rankings update is scheduled for the upcoming Wednesday.

The Indian opener also demonstrated his batting prowess in the 2023 Asia Cup, where he emerged as the tournament's highest run-scorer. He accumulated an impressive 302 runs in six innings, boasting an average of 75.50.

In the year 2023, Gill has been a force to reckon with in the ODI format, leading the batting charts with a total of 1221 runs in 20 innings. In comparison, Pakistan skipper, during the same year, has scored 745 runs in 15 innings. This remarkable consistency and his recent outstanding performances have firmly established Gill as a strong contender for the coveted number one spot in ODI batting rankings.