India’s experienced skipper, Rohit Sharma, is closing in on Babar Azam at the top of the ODI rankings for batters, while a Sri Lanka opener also makes his move. Openers from India and Sri Lanka have been the big winners, making significant strides near the top of the updated ICC Men’s ODI Batter Rankings, as per the ICC.
Pakistan’s Babar Azam, who holds a commanding lead at the top of the list for ODI batters, faces fresh challenges from India skipper Rohit Sharma and Sri Lanka right-hander Pathum Nissanka. Rohit has risen to second place, overtaking teammate Shubman Gill, following his series-best 157 runs against Sri Lanka. Nissanka also gains a spot, moving to eighth place after his 101 runs from the same series.
Sri Lanka broke a 27-year drought by defeating India for the first time since 1997 during that ODI series. Kusal Mendis (up five spots to equal 39th) and Avishka Fernando (up 20 places to 68th) also made gains on the latest list for 50-over batters.
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Hard-hitting Netherlands opener Max O’Dowd (up 10 places to 54th) and USA’s Monank Patel (up 11 spots to equal 56th) also made progress on this list, while USA’s Nosthush Kenjige (up 10 rungs to 49th) and Sri Lanka spinner Dunith Wellalage (up 17 spots to 59th) were among the big movers on the ODI rankings for bowlers.
There was also some movement on the latest Test player rankings following the draw between the West Indies and South Africa in Trinidad, as per the ICC. South Africa captain Temba Bavuma achieved a new career-high rating, improving two places to 16th on the list for Test batters after scores of 86 and 15* against the Caribbean side. Opener Tony de Zorzi gained 29 places, improving to 85th following an excellent 78 in the first innings of the ICC World Test Championship contest.
Jason Holder (up three spots to 67th) and Alick Athanaze (up 12 places to 76th) were among the movers for Test batters from the West Indies perspective, while South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj was the standout performer on the latest list for Test bowlers. Maharaj claimed four wickets in each inning, earning Player of the Match honors, and improved seven spots to rise to equal 21st as a result.
The West Indies will be pleased by the ongoing progress of spinner Jomel Warrican, who rose 12 spots to 54th and achieved a new career-best rating following his six scalps for the match.
(WITH INPUTS FROM ANI)
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