ICC Rankings: Fans react as Shubman Gill dethrones Babar Azam as no. 1 batter, Mohammed Siraj earns top spot

In the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023 saw Indian batsman Shubman Gill post remarkable performances which has now led to him propelling to the top position in the ICC ODI Rankings for men. On the other hand, his teammate Mohammed Siraj also claimed the No. 1 spot in the ODI Rankings for bowlers.

Gill's exceptional display enabled him to dethrone Pakistan's Babar Azam as the world's premier ODI batsman. He joined an elite group of Indian players, including Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli, who have held the No.1 ODI ranking. Gill has accumulated 219 runs from six innings in the ongoing World Cup, with highlights such as his 92 against Sri Lanka and 23 against South Africa.

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Pakistan's captain, Babar Azam, slipped to the second spot in the rankings, trailing Gill by six rating points. This marked the end of his two-year reign as the world's top ODI batsman. Gill's ascent to the top spot generated widespread reactions on social media platforms, particularly on X (formerly known as Twitter).

On the bowling front, Mohammed Siraj's excellent performances in recent World Cup matches propelled him to the No. 1 position in the bowlers' rankings. Siraj's impressive year also included his 6-wicket haul against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2023 final. His exceptional form has been evident in the World Cup, where he played a pivotal role in India's victories.

Among the top 10 bowlers in the ODI rankings, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Shami are occupy various spots. Shaheen Shah Afridi, who was previously ranked No. 1 among bowlers, has now fallen to the fifth position in the rankings. 

Meanwhile, former Indian captain Virat Kohli claimed the fourth spot in the rankings. Gill's ascent to the top position coincides with Kohli's climb to fourth place, bringing him within one rating point of third-placed South African opener Quinton de Kock, thanks to his 543 runs in the World Cup.

In other notable movements, Indian batsman Shreyas Iyer climbed 17 places to reach the 18th position in the overall list of ODI batters. Pakistan's opener Fakhar Zaman moved up three places to 11th, while Afghanistan's Ibrahim Zadran climbed six spots to 12th in the rankings.

India, unbeaten in the World Cup 2023 after eight games, continues to dominate the ICC rankings, with top-ranked players in various formats.