Pakistan’s cricketing sensation Babar Azam has lost his No.1 ODI batting ranking just days before the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
The latest rankings, released by the International Cricket Council (ICC), show a major shake-up at the top, with Shubman Gill of India overtaking Babar Azam to claim the top spot in ODI batting.
This marks the second time Babar Azam has been dethroned from the No.1 position, having previously lost it to Gill during the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. The 25-year-old Indian batsman secured his top ranking after an impressive century against England in the recently concluded ODI series in Ahmedabad.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana has climbed to No.1 in the Men’s ODI Bowling Rankings, surpassing Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan. This shift in rankings adds an intriguing subplot to the Champions Trophy 2025, which will be co-hosted by Pakistan and Dubai.
Babar Azam Drops to Second in ODI Rankings
The rankings update sees Babar Azam slipping to second place, trailing Shubman Gill by 23 rating points. India’s Rohit Sharma remains at third, 45 points behind his fellow opener.
Other notable changes in the batting rankings include:
• New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell moving up to fifth place.
• Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka surging eight spots to eighth.
• Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan, climbing six places to 15th, achieving a career-high rating.
• Salman Agha, another in-form Pakistan batter, jumping 24 spots to 48th after strong performances in the recent Tri-Nation series.
Bowlers Shake Up the Rankings
In the ODI Bowling Rankings, Sri Lankan spinner Maheesh Theekshana dethroned Rashid Khan after an outstanding series against Australia, including a four-wicket haul in Colombo. Despite Sri Lanka missing out on the Champions Trophy, Theekshana’s performances earned him the top position.
Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan now sits in second place, 11 points behind the new leader, while other notable movements include:
• India’s Kuldeep Yadav, moving up to fourth.
• South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj, re-entering the rankings at sixth.
• New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner, climbing four spots to seventh.
Babar Azam Eyes Redemption in Champions Trophy
As Babar Azam gears up for the Champions Trophy 2025, all eyes will be on whether the former No.1 can reclaim his throne. His performances will be crucial in Pakistan’s bid for their second Champions Trophy title, with fans eagerly waiting to see if Babar Azam can deliver match-winning innings against the world’s best teams.