The Inevitable has happened as Babar Azam has replaced Virat Kohli at the top of the ICC rankings for ODI batsmen. Kohli who was the number 1 ODI batsman in the world since June 2017 is now a total of 8 points behind Babar. The Pakistan captain had a sensational ODI series against South Africa as he smashed a match-winning century in the first ODI and then a crucial 94 in the decider.

Babar Azam replaces Virat Kohli and becomes the new number 1 ODI batsman

Babar who in the last few years was constantly in the top 3 has finally overtaken Virat Kohli and became the number 1 ICC ODI batsman. The Indian captain even though scored 2 fifties in the ODI series against England failed in the last ODI and his points dropped which gave an opportunity to Babar Azam to go past him.

After being the number 1 ODI batsman for 1322 consecutive days Kohli’s reign has ended. Now with India unlikely to play many ODI series this year, Babar is destined to remain at the top ahead of Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Talking about Babar Azam he has now become the fourth Pakistani batsman to become the number 1 ODI batsman after Zaheer Abbas, Mohammad Yousuf and Javed Miandad.

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Meanwhile, as far as Babar’s ODI record is concerned it is nothing short then sensational. The 26-year-old in 80 matches has smashed 3808 runs at an average of 56.8 including 13 centuries.

Since taking over the captaincy of Pakistan he has taken his game to another level and now fittingly has replaced Virat Kohli as the new ICC number 1 ODI batsman in the world. Babar currently has 865 points whereas Kohli is at the second spot with 857 points followed by Rohit Sharma at 3 with 825 points.

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