India’s Shubman Gill has ascended to the No.1 position in the ICC ODI rankings, surpassing Pakistan’s Babar Azam following a remarkable performance against England.

The 24-year-old batter secured the top spot after a prolific three-match series where he scored a century and two half-centuries, accumulating 259 runs at an average of 86.33. This surge in form has propelled Gill to 796 points in the rankings, leaving Babar Azam trailing at 776 points.

India’s prolific batter and Sri Lanka’s ace spinner the big winners in the latest ICC Men’s Player Rankings ahead of the #ChampionsTrophy 🏏https://t.co/rUB3vR3dxh

— ICC (@ICC) February 19, 2025

Shubman’s achievement comes at a crucial juncture as India prepare for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. His consistent performances and recent elevation to India’s ODI vice-captaincy have drawn praise from national coach Gautam Gambhir.

Gambhir, speaking on Gill’s rise, remarked that the leadership responsibility has positively influenced the young batter’s game.

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“The batter’s recent elevation to the vice-captain’s position has helped him with consistency,” he said.

The latest rankings reflect a strong Indian presence, with four Indian batters featuring in the top ten. Rohit Sharma is ranked third, Virat Kohli sixth, and Shreyas Iyer ninth, underlining India’s batting depth in the 50-over format.

Gill’s leap to the summit was sealed on 19 February after the ICC updated its rankings. Babar Azam, who led the charts for a prolonged period, dropped 13 points, while Gill gained 15 points, displacing the former Pakistan captain.

India will look to capitalise on Gill’s form as they approach the Champions Trophy, aiming to reclaim the coveted title.