"I Can't Believe It": Nasser Hussain's Epic Reaction to Rohit Sharma Reaching World No. 1 ODI Ranking Late in Career

Former England captain Nasser Hussain expressed astonishment that Rohit Sharma has reached the ICC Men's ODI batter ranking No. 1 position for the first time in his career—at the age of 38, when most players are contemplating retirement. Rohit's ascent to the top spot, achieved following a scintillating performance in India's recent three-match ODI series against Australia, has left cricket experts and former players bewildered by the timing of this historic milestone.

A Career-First Achievement at 38

On October 28, Rohit dethrone India teammate Shubman Gill and Afghanistan's Ibrahim Zadran to claim the top spot with 781 rating points. The 38-year-old achieved this milestone after scoring 202 runs in three ODIs against Australia, with a match-winning unbeaten 121 in Sydney that earned him the Player of the Series award.

What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that Rohit had been in the top rankings for nearly a decade—reaching a career-high of 882 rating points at No. 2 during the 2019 World Cup, where he smashed five centuries—yet never managed to break through to the No. 1 spot until now.

Hussain's Shock and Admiration

Speaking to the ICC, Nasser Hussain—who captained England for 17 Tests—couldn't hide his surprise at the late timing of Rohit's achievement.

"I can't believe it, to be honest. I heard he went to number one, and my first question was—when has he been at number one before? And someone said it's the first time. I mean, he's been around forever; he's got three double hundreds in ODI cricket. There must have been some good white-ball players, one-day players in the last 15 years. Fabulous white-ball cricketer, fabulous player, and well done to him. He deserves to be number one in the world," Hussain said in admiration.

Hussain's comments underscore a broader sentiment: Rohit's consistency and excellence over the years—his 11,370 ODI runs from 276 matches, 33 centuries, and an average of 49.22—should have guaranteed him the top ranking long before now.

Dinesh Karthik's 2019 World Cup Theory

Former India batter Dinesh Karthik echoed similar sentiments, expressing surprise that Rohit didn't achieve the No. 1 ranking during the 2019 World Cup, when he was at his absolute peak.

"I am surprised that in the 2019 World Cup he wasn't No. 1 somewhere during the tournament. Just the way he batted—it was poetry in motion. It was fascinating to watch how much effort he put in during the lead-up to the series," Karthik said.

In that tournament, Rohit had been a tour de force for India, scoring 648 runs from nine matches with five centuries and one half-century—a record unmatched by any Indian batter in a World Cup.

The Versatility Factor

What impressed Karthik most during the Australia series, however, was a different facet of Rohit's game—one that demonstrated remarkable versatility and mental toughness.

"Prior to this series, over the last three to four years, when the ball was seaming, his only modus operandi was hit out or get out. Here, he actually went back to being a good old-fashioned opener, where he left the ball and played defensively. He almost showed what it takes to do well in such tough conditions as an opener," Karthik explained.

This adaptability—shifting from his trademark aggressive approach to a more traditional, technique-based method when conditions demanded—showcased a dimension of Rohit's cricket that had been somewhat overlooked in recent years.

Mental Courage in Different Forms

Karthik further elaborated on the psychological shift Rohit demonstrated in Australia:

"Now, that side of Rohit Sharma we haven't seen because the belligerent side is what we've become so accustomed to. That's an even harder skill, but this is a hard skill in a different way. It takes a lot of mental courage to leave a ball, get no success out of it because it's a dot ball, yet know that if I bat through this and back my technique, I'll get runs."

Karthik's observation highlights how Rohit, even late in his career, continues to evolve and refine his approach—a hallmark of great champions who understand the nuances of the game at the highest level.

The Historic Milestone

At 38 years and 182 days, Rohit is among the oldest batters ever to achieve the No. 1 ranking in ICC ODI ratings. His journey to the top has been marked by consistency rather than flash, and excellence across formats rather than domination in one.

With 33 ODI centuries, Rohit sits just four behind Sachin Tendulkar's all-time record of 49 centuries. His recent century in Sydney marked his 50th international century across all formats—a testament to his enduring quality.

A Late Crowning of a Legend

For a player who has spent 15 years at the forefront of international cricket, reaching No. 1 at 38 feels both overdue and perfectly timed. It's a vindication of his consistency, his ability to evolve, and his refusal to be defined by any single mode of batting.

As Nasser Hussain aptly put it: Rohit Sharma—the fabulous white-ball cricketer—finally deserves to be number one in the world.