Rohit Sharma Scripts History by Becoming Oldest Indian to Top ICC ODI Rankings

At 38 years and 182 days, Rohit Sharma has rewritten the record books once again—this time by becoming the oldest Indian cricketer to claim the number one spot in the ICC Men's ODI batting rankings. The milestone, achieved after a stellar performance in the recently concluded ODI series against Australia, marks the first time in his illustrious 17-year career that the veteran opener has occupied the top position.

A Career-First Achievement at 38

Rohit's ascent to the summit is the result of a stunning showing Down Under, where he was named Player of the Series after amassing 202 runs in three matches at an average of 101. His knocks of 73 in Adelaide and an unbeaten 121 in Sydney were instrumental in India's consolation win in the third ODI and propelled him from third to first in the rankings with 781 rating points.

This achievement is particularly significant given the timing. Rohit had recently been replaced as India's ODI captain by Shubman Gill ahead of the Australia series, sparking widespread speculation about his future in the format. Yet, rather than fade into the background, he responded with one of the finest performances of his career—proving that age is just a number when class and experience meet form.

Dethroning Gill, Making History

Rohit's rise to the top came at the expense of his successor as captain. Shubman Gill, who had been occupying the number one spot before the series, endured a forgettable outing against Australia, managing just 43 runs across three innings. His struggles saw him slip to third place with 745 rating points.

Afghanistan's Ibrahim Zadran briefly held the top spot between the second and third ODIs—becoming the first Afghan batter to reach number one—before Rohit's century in Sydney catapulted him to the summit. Zadran now sits second with 764 points.

Oldest to Reach Number One

Rohit's record as the oldest Indian to top the ODI rankings adds another layer to his legacy. The previous oldest Indian batters to achieve the feat were significantly younger, making this accomplishment even more remarkable. Globally, only a handful of batters have reached the number one spot at such an advanced age, underlining Rohit's fitness, form, and longevity in the format.

Here's a look at the oldest batters to claim the ODI number one ranking:

Rohit Sharma (India) – 38 years, 182 days

Hashim Amla (South Africa) – 32 years, 155 days

AB de Villiers (South Africa) – 32 years, 36 days

Kane Williamson (New Zealand) – 30 years, 236 days

Virat Kohli (India) – 29 years, 245 days

A Career of Consistency

Rohit's journey to the top has been long and steady. He first broke into the top 10 of the ODI rankings in 2013 and has been a consistent presence ever since. His previous best was the number two spot, which he first achieved in July 2018. Over the years, he has hovered between second and fifth, but the elusive top position always remained out of reach—until now.

With 11,370 ODI runs, 33 centuries, and 59 half-centuries at an average of 49.22, Rohit's numbers speak for themselves. He is also the only player in ODI history to score three double centuries and holds the record for the highest individual score in the format (264 against Sri Lanka in 2014).

Other Indian Batters in the Rankings

While Rohit sits at the top, other Indian batters are also making their presence felt:

Shubman Gill – 3rd (745 points)

Virat Kohli – 6th (725 points)

Shreyas Iyer – 9th (up one spot after his 61 in Adelaide)

Kohli's unbeaten 74 in Sydney helped him maintain his position in the top 10, while Shreyas Iyer's rise came despite missing the third ODI due to his spleen injury.

Bowlers on the Move

The series also saw notable movements in the bowling rankings:

Josh Hazlewood (Australia) – up two places to 8th

Adam Zampa (Australia) – up two places to 12th

Axar Patel (India) – up six places to 31st

Washington Sundar (India) – up 22 places to 73rd

A Farewell Tour? Rohit's performances in Australia were bittersweet, as he hinted that this might be his last tour of the country. Speaking after the third ODI, he said: "Always love coming here and playing here. Fond memories of 2008. I'm not sure if we'll be coming back to Australia, but we enjoy our cricket no matter what accolades we achieve."

With the 2027 Cricket World Cup still two years away, questions remain about how long Rohit will continue in ODI cricket. For now, though, he's shown that he still has plenty left in the tank—and he's doing it at the very top of the world.