Daryl Mitchell Becomes No.1 ODI Batter, ICC Rankings Updated

New Zealander Daryl Mitchell has reached the top of the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings, ending India’s Rohit Sharma’s reign at number one. Mitchell’s rise followed a brilliant century in the opening ODI against the West Indies. This marked his seventh ODI century and helped him claim the top spot for the first time in his career.

Mitchell is now only the second player from New Zealand to reach the number one ODI batter position. The first was Kiwi legend Glenn Turner in 1979. Several other New Zealand players, including Martin Crowe, Kane Williamson, and Ross Taylor, have featured in the top five during their careers, but only Turner and Mitchell have held the No.1 ranking.

Following Pakistan’s 3-0 ODI series win over Sri Lanka, several Pakistani players improved their standings. Mohammad Rizwan rose five places to equal 22nd, while Fakhar Zaman also climbed five spots to equal 26th among batters. Spinner Abrar Ahmed jumped 11 places to ninth, and pacer Haris Rauf moved five spots to 23rd on the latest ODI bowling rankings. Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan continues to lead the bowling chart.

The opening Test between India and South Africa in Kolkata caused movement in the ICC Test rankings. South Africa captain Temba Bavuma entered the top five for Test batters for the first time after scoring an unbeaten 55 in the second innings. India’s Shubman Gill rose two places to 11th despite an injury, and Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto climbed four spots to 34th following his century against Ireland. Mahmudul Hasan Joy jumped 19 places to 74th after his second Test hundred.

India pacer Jasprit Bumrah retained his number one ranking after taking six wickets in the first Test at Eden Gardens. Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja made gains, moving to 13th and 15th respectively. South African bowlers Marco Jansen and Simon Harmer rose in the rankings, with Jansen also moving up to fifth in Test all-rounders.

In T20I cricket, New Zealand players Tim Robinson and Devon Conway gained positions, reaching 15th and equal 48th respectively. Bowler Jacob Duffy improved one spot to second. Pakistan players also saw progress in T20I rankings after their tri-series match against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. Mohammad Nawaz moved up four places to 27th for bowling and two spots to eighth for all-rounders after contributing with both bat and ball in a win against Zimbabwe.

The latest ICC rankings reflect the ongoing competitiveness in international cricket across formats. Players from New Zealand, India, Pakistan, South Africa, and Bangladesh have improved their positions, while emerging stars continue to make their mark on ODI, Test, and T20I rankings. Daryl Mitchell’s rise as the No.1 ODI batter highlights the increasing strength of New Zealand cricket on the world stage.

As international cricket continues with key series and tournaments, player rankings are expected to remain dynamic. Performances in upcoming matches, including the World Cup and other bilateral series, will further influence ICC rankings across all formats, offering opportunities for more players to climb the global charts.