Babar Azam just lost the top slot to Shubman Gill after 950 days

WEBDESK: Babar Azam might currently deny the rumors of purchasing an expensive Sabyasachi Sherwani, but he must have had another concern – Shubman Gill chasing him for the world number 1 title.

Current ICC ODI Rankings

As of the last update on November 8, Pakistan’s Babar Azam, with a total 19 centuries, held the top position in the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings with a rating of 818 till yestreday.

That has changed. Gill is now the number one batsman in the world with 830 points while Azam has been downgraded to number two with 824 points in the new ICC ratings.

Gill’s career-best rating is 847, achieved against Australia on September 24, 2023, while Babar’s career-best rating was 898 against the West Indies on June 10, 2022.

Babar is just one century away from levelling cricket legend Saeed Anwar’s record for scoring to most 100s in the one-day format, and has been a consistent performer for Pakistan, but Shubman Gill’s recent form has seen him ascend rapidly up the rankings, helping him overtake the Pakistan skipper.

Performance Analysis

Babar Azam’s peak rating was recorded against the West Indies in June 2022, while Shubman Gill’s best came in a match against Australia in September 2023.

Babar Azam has marked his tenure at the top with a series of high-quality performances, yet the dynamic nature of the ODI format ensures that no position remains secure.

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Shubman Gill’s rise is indicative of his talent and the rich vein of form he has been in. It’s a testament to the competitive environment of international cricket that such a young talent is already challenging for the pinnacle of the batting rankings.

With both players representing their countries in ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, the change at the top signals a new phase in ODI cricket’s batting hierarchy with the world cup having a siginificant impact on it.

Cricket enthusiasts in Pakistan will be eager to see if Babar Azam can make a comeback to the top slot any time soon.