Christchurch, New Zealand – In a dramatic turn of events in the world of ODI cricket, Rohit Sharma's reign as the No. 1 ranked batter has come to an end after just 22 days. New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell has surged to the top of the ICC Men's ODI Batting Rankings, marking a historic moment for New Zealand cricket.
Mitchell's ascent marks the first time a New Zealander has held the top spot in the ODI batting rankings since Glenn Turner achieved the feat 46 years ago in 1979. His achievement comes on the heels of a match-winning century against the West Indies in their series opener in Christchurch. The 34-year-old's brilliant knock of 119 runs from 118 balls not only secured the Player of the Match award but also propelled him past Afghanistan's Ibrahim Zadran and Rohit Sharma in the rankings. Mitchell now holds a rating of 782, edging past Sharma's 781 by a single point.
Rohit Sharma had attained the top spot in the ICC Men's ODI batting rankings on October 26, 2025. His rise to the summit was largely due to his impressive performance in the recent India-Australia ODI series, where he scored his 33rd ODI century and earned the Player of the Series award.
While Mitchell's rise to the top is a cause for celebration in New Zealand, his time at the summit may be short-lived. He sustained a groin injury during his match-winning innings and has been ruled out of the remaining two matches against the West Indies. This absence could provide an opportunity for Sharma to reclaim the No. 1 ranking in the near future.
Despite the potential for a swift return to the top for Sharma, Mitchell's achievement is a significant milestone in his career and for New Zealand cricket. While other New Zealand batsmen such as Nathan Astle, Ross Taylor, and Kane Williamson have reached as high as third in the rankings, Mitchell is the first to emulate Turner's feat from 1979.
In other movements in the ODI rankings, Pakistan's Babar Azam has climbed one spot to sixth position after his unbeaten century against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi. His teammates Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman have also made significant gains, moving up to 22nd and 26th places, respectively, after scoring two half-centuries each against Sri Lanka.
The latest update to the ICC rankings also saw shifts in the ODI bowling rankings. Pakistan leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed reached a career-best ninth position after taking three wickets against Sri Lanka. Haris Rauf of Pakistan has moved up five places to 23rd, while West Indies' Jayden Seales and Roston Chase have also climbed in the rankings.
The ICC rankings are a dynamic reflection of player performances, and these latest changes highlight the ongoing competition and talent across international cricket. While Mitchell celebrates his historic achievement, the ever-shifting landscape of ODI cricket suggests that the battle for the top spot will continue to be fiercely contested.
