Shubman Gill Just Did Something No One Expected in ODI Rankings

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-07-30

Shubman Gill just pulled off a move that cricket fans have been watching closely for months. He's back at the top of the ICC ODI batting rankings, snatching the No. 1 spot from New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell. It's been a six-month climb back to the summit, and the timing couldn't feel sweeter for the India captain. Gill now sits on 801 rating points, seven clear of Mitchell, who dropped to second with 794. Mitchell's absence from New Zealand's recent ODI series against the West Indies opened the door, and Gill walked right through it. ### What Changed at the Top? The ICC released its latest update on Wednesday, confirming the shift at the top of the batting charts. Mitchell missed the away series in the Caribbean, and that gap in match activity handed Gill the opening he needed to move past him. The ICC statement pointed to this directly. Mitchell's absence during the West Indies series allowed Gill to reclaim the No. 1 position in 50-over cricket. Mitchell had held the top spot since January, so his six-month run at the summit has officially come to an end. Gill's return to the top reflects the form he's carried through the format over the past year. He held the No. 1 ranking earlier before Mitchell displaced him at the start of 2026, and Wednesday's update marks his second stint at the summit within the same year. His consistency across formats has kept him among the sport's most closely watched batters, and this latest jump adds another marker to that run. ### India's Batting Depth Is No Joke India's strength in the rankings goes way beyond Gill alone. Virat Kohli holds third place with 767 points, and Rohit Sharma sits fourth with 758. That gives India three names inside the top five, a rare cluster that points to the depth running through the batting lineup as the team heads into a packed ODI calendar. The list extends further down too. Shreyas Iyer sits at 13th, and KL Rahul occupies the 18th spot. Between the top five and these positions, India now count five batters inside the top 20. That's a wide talent pool, and it's exactly what you want in the 50-over format. ### Bowling and Test Rankings See Fresh Movement The changes weren't limited to batting. Namibia spinner Bernard Scholtz jumped five places to seventh among ODI bowlers. That rise was built on his performance during the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 tri-series in Utrecht, which also featured Nepal and the Netherlands. Test rankings recorded their own set of movers. West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves posted major gains after a standout showing against Pakistan in Trinidad. He rose 21 places to 48th among Test bowlers and climbed eight spots to ninth in the all-rounders' list. That came as a result of five consecutive wicket maidens during that match. Jayden Seales also moved up, reaching 24th among Test bowlers, while Pakistan's Mohammad Abbas advanced to 17th. In the batting charts, Babar Azam gained four places to sit 15th after bringing up his 32nd Test half-century. ### What's Next for Gill? For Gill, the timing works in his favor. India have a full ODI season ahead, and starting it at No. 1 gives him a strong marker to defend heading into the coming months. He's proven he can handle the pressure, and now he has a target on his back again. Here's a quick look at the current top five in the ICC ODI batting rankings: - Shubman Gill (India) - 801 points - Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand) - 794 points - Virat Kohli (India) - 767 points - Rohit Sharma (India) - 758 points - Babar Azam (Pakistan) - 15th after gaining four places It's going to be an exciting stretch of cricket, and Gill's return to the top just adds another layer to the story. Keep an eye on how he handles the chase.