Shubman Gill Narrows Gap With Babar Azam for Top Spot in ICC ODI Batting Rankings – News18

The India vs Pakistan is set to be one of the most eagerly awaited clash of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 that starts in the first week of October. The political history of the two neighbours and their fierce rivalry on the cricket field surely makes this one of the most entertaining clashes in the sport.

However, there will be another battle for supremacy between two of the finest batting talents to have emerged from these two cricket-mad nations.

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Pakistan maestro Babar Azam is currently the top-ranked ODI batter and he will enter the marquee event as the world’s best. However, he has a rival for the top spot in the young Shubman Gill, dubbed as the ‘Prince’ of Indian batting.

Gill has had a remarkable year in ODI cricket which has seen him peel off five centuries and as many fifties in his 1230 runs from just 20 innings which is the most by anyone so far in 2023.

Gill’s stunning form has propelled him to the second spot in ICC ODI rankings for batter and he has narrowed the gap to just 10 rating points with Pakistan captain Babar now.

In the recently concluded three-match ODI series between India and Australia, Gill scored 74 in the first ODI and followed that with a century – the sixth of his career. He was given a rest from the third match after India took an unassailable 2-0 lead.

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The two innings though helped him achieve a career-best rating of 847.

During the six weeks of the ODI World Cup in India, Babar will face a stiff challenge from Gill for the top spot with each team set to play at least nine matches during that period.

The duo has a massive lead over other claimants with South African Rassie van der Dussen third on this list with 743 rating points.

The India duo of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul have climbed up the rankings thanks to their recent successes. Iyer has risen to the 30th spot after skipping eight places while his teammate Rahul is ranked 33rd now – up six spots.

India will open their world cup campaign against Australia on October 8 in Chennai.