Team India opener Rohit Sharma is no longer the No. 1 ODI batter, with New Zealand star and former CSK all-rounder Daryl Mitchell taking over the top position. With this achievement, Mitchell becomes only the second player from New Zealand to reach No. 1 in the ODI batting rankings, following Glenn Turner’s feat back in 1979.
Mitchell powered his way to a seventh ODI century in the opening match of the three-game series against the West Indies in Christchurch, scoring 119 from 118 deliveries in a narrow seven-run win on Sunday, November 16. That knock was enough to push him past Rohit in the rankings, marking the first time in his career that the 34-year-old has secured the No. 1 spot.
While several New Zealand greats such as- Martin Crowe, Ross Taylor, Andrew Jones, Roger Twose, Nathan Astle, Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill, have broken into the top five of the ODI batting charts, only Turner and now Mitchell have managed to reach the very top.
Importantly, the all-rounder has been ruled out of the rest of the ODI series against the West Indies because of a groin injury.
Rohit Sharma gets a chance to reclaim No. 1 ODI ranking
Rohit Sharma now has a chance to reclaim the No. 1 spot in the ODI rankings during India’s upcoming home series against South Africa, starting November 30. The former India skipper ended the recent Australia series as the leading run-scorer, piling up 202 runs across three matches.
Though he fell early in the opening ODI, Rohit bounced back with scores of 73 and 121 in the next two games, earning him the Player of the Series title. He will be eager to deliver strong performances against the Proteas as he looks to stay in the mix for the 2027 World Cup. Before the ODIs, India and South Africa will meet in the second Test in Guwahati on November 22.
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