Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai
Dubai, Mar 12: Following India's triumphant ICC Men’s Champions Trophy campaign, skipper Rohit Sharma has surged to third place in the latest ICC ODI batting rankings, closing in on teammate and table-topper Shubman Gill.
India clinched their third Champions Trophy title with a thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand in Dubai, and standout performers from both sides have been rewarded in the rankings update released on Wednesday.
Rohit, who played a match-winning knock of 76 off 83 balls in the final, jumped two places to secure the third spot. His impactful innings also earned him the Player of the Match award. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli, who amassed 218 runs throughout the tournament, remains in fifth place.
New Zealand’s batting lineup also saw notable improvements. Daryl Mitchell moved up one spot to sixth, while rising star Rachin Ravindra made an impressive leap of 14 places to claim the 14th spot. Glenn Phillips also climbed six places to reach 24th.
On the bowling front, New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner emerged as a key performer, finishing the tournament with nine wickets, including two in the final. His stellar display propelled him six places up to No.2 in the ODI bowling rankings, trailing only Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana.
Fellow Kiwi all-rounder Michael Bracewell also made significant strides, climbing 10 places to secure the 18th spot in the bowling rankings.
India’s spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja played pivotal roles in the team's unbeaten run. Kuldeep, who claimed seven wickets in the tournament, moved up to No.3 in the bowling rankings, while Jadeja’s five-wicket haul pushed him into the top 10.
Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai retained his position as the No.1 ODI all-rounder, but the Champions Trophy caused significant movement just below him. Santner’s all-round heroics lifted him to fourth place, while Bracewell (7th) and Ravindra (8th) also climbed the rankings after their strong performances with both bat and ball.
With India's emphatic victory and multiple players rising through the rankings, the team has cemented its dominance in world cricket, setting the stage for more success in the coming months.