The Milestone Moment
On 29 October 2025, Rohit Sharma ascended to the No. 1 spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s ODI Batting Rankings for the first time in his illustrious career.
He achieved this after a superb series in Australia, where knocks of 73 and an unbeaten 121 propelled him up the rankings.
He topped the charts with 781 rating points, ahead of Ibrahim Zadran (764) and Shubman Gill (745).
2. Why This Is Remarkable
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At 38 years and 182 days, Rohit became the oldest player ever to reach No. 1 in ODI batting rankings.
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It marks the culmination of an ODI career that began nearly 18 years ago (debut in 2007) yet had never seen him reach the summit of the rankings until now.
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Despite long spells in the top 10, and plenty of centuries, this was a peak moment that eluded him until this point.
3. The Form That Drove It
Rohit’s recent surge was anchored on a dominant series vs Australia Men’s Cricket Team:
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Scored 202 runs in three matches at an average of 101.
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His 121* in Sydney included 13 fours + 3 sixes, steering India to a nine-wicket win.
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Before this series, his best ranking had been No. 2 (first achieved July 2018) but never No. 1 until now.
4. Significance for Indian Cricket
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With Rohit joining, the elite list of Indian batters who’ve held the No. 1 ODI ranking expands: names such as Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli are part of this rarefied group.
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It highlights the depth and staying power of Indian batting across generations—veterans still asserting dominance.
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For Rohit personally, this milestone may well be the testament of longevity, adaptation, and enduring class.
5. What This Means for Rohit’s Legacy
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This achievement adds a new dimension: not just prolific scoring, but becoming the very best in ranking for a period of time.
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It comes at a stage when many players wind down; for Rohit, it’s almost a late-career flourish.
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It may spark fresh discussions: where does he now stand in the pantheon of ODI greats? How will this add to his narrative alongside triple double-hundreds, countless centuries and big match performances?
6. Looking Ahead
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Maintaining the No. 1 spot will be challenging—everyone will chase him, younger batters on the rise, conditions will test vigilance.
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The fact that he achieved this at nearly 39 underscores his current fitness, motivation and technique. The question is: how long will this last?
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For Indian ODI cricket, with the 2027 Cricket World Cup around the corner, can Rohit parlay this form into tournament success?
Closing Thought
“Better late than never” — a phrase perfectly embodied by Rohit Sharma’s journey to the top of the ODI batting world. This is a defining moment, not just for his personal career, but as an emblem of persistence, reinvention and prime form at an age when many are past their peak.