In the latest ICC rankings published on the inaugural day of the Champions Trophy, Shubman Gill and Maheesh Theekshana have emerged as the leading figures in One Day International cricket, claiming the coveted positions of the highest-rated men's ODI batter and bowler. Gill has surpassed Pakistan's Babar Azam to take the top spot, while Theekshana has outperformed Afghanistan's Rashid Khan to assume his position.
Gill's ascent to the top position comes on the back of a stellar performance during the recent home ODI series against England, in which India achieved a comprehensive 3-0 victory. Over the series, Gill showcased his exceptional batting prowess, accumulating a total of 259 runs across three matches with scores of 87, 60, and an impressive 112. His performance not only secured him the title of the series’ highest run-scorer but also provided a striking batting average of 86.33 and an enviable strike rate of 103.60. In stark contrast, the next highest run-scorer, Shreyas Iyer, trailed significantly with 181 runs, falling 78 runs short of Gill's tally.
This marks the second occasion on which Gill has held the No. 1 position in ODI cricket. The first instance occurred during the ICC ODI World Cup in 2023. Currently, Gill holds 796 rating points, while Babar Azam has dropped to second place with 773 points. Following these two players in the top five are Rohit Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen, and Daryl Mitchell, who ascended two places after delivering commendable performances in the recent three-match tri-series in Pakistan, where he scored 81, 10, and 57 runs.
In the realm of bowling, Maheesh Theekshana has showcased his talents remarkably during the ODI series against Australia, where he showcased notable skills. He became the seventh Sri Lankan bowler to achieve an ODI hat-trick during this series. Although Sri Lanka did not qualify for the Champions Trophy, both Theekshana and captain Charith Asalanka capitalized on the home series against Australia, with Theekshana returning impressively with figures of 4 for 40 and 0 for 11 in two ODIs.
Rashid Khan, who has not participated in an ODI match since last December, now finds himself in second place on the bowling rankings. He holds 669 rating points, just 11 points behind Theekshana, who currently enjoys a rating of 680 points. This slight gap leaves open the possibility for Rashid to reclaim the top position with a strong showing in the ongoing Champions Trophy. The rankings further feature Bernard Scholtz of Namibia in third place, with India’s Kuldeep Yadav and Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi following closely behind in the top five.
In summary, the latest ICC rankings have brought to light the exceptional performances of Shubman Gill and Maheesh Theekshana, two athletes who have established themselves as key figures in the contemporary ODI landscape. Gill's consistent batting and Theekshana's wicket-taking ability underscore their value to their respective teams and illustrate the competitive nature of ODI cricket today. With the Champions Trophy underway, both players have ample opportunity to solidify their rankings further and make a case for retaining their top statuses.