Young opener of team India Shubman Gill in touching distance to displace Babar Azam as World No. 1 ODI batter.
Babar Azam’s lead at the head of the MRF Tyres ODI Batting Rankings has been reduced to just six rating points as India’s Shubman Gill and a host of stars in stunning form at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup close in on the Pakistan skipper.
Babar Azam drops to a total of 829 rating points despite having amassed 157 runs from five innings so far at the Cricket World Cup, with his most recent effort a fighting 74 in a losing side against Afghanistan in Chennai. Shubman Gill has 95 runs from just three matches for India, with the right-hander improving to 823 rating points on the back of his standout innings of 53 against Bangladesh in Pune.
The India opener isn’t the only player to make inroads on Babar Azam, with in-form South African Quinton de Kock within striking distance in third place on the rankings for ODI batters following a superb start to the World Cup that has seen him score three magnificent centuries.
South Africa teammate Heinrich Klaasen up seven places to fourth and a new career-high rating also makes good ground, while experienced duo Virat Kohli improves three spots and David Warner up two spots share fifth place on the rankings after some good performances in India.