Fewest innings taken by Indian batters to reach No.1 in ICC ODI rankings

Former Indian captain Rohit Sharma has achieved a major milestone by becoming the No. 1 batter in the ICC ODI rankings for the first time in his career, accomplishing the feat after playing 268 matches. The legendary MS Dhoni remains the fastest Indian to claim the No. 1 spot in the ODI batting rankings, having reached the summit in just 38 games.

He had become only the second Indian after Sachin Tendulkar to achieve the No. 1 ranking when he surpassed Ricky Ponting to reach the top in 2006. The former captain went on to reclaim the No. 1 position twice more, in 2008 and 2010, during the peak years of his international career.

Dhoni amassed 10,773 runs  at an average of over 50 in 350 ODIs, including 10 centuries and 73 half-centuries. His rapid rise to the top remains unmatched, as he still holds the record for being the fastest batter ever to become the world’s No. 1 ranked ODI batter. 

Dhoni remains the only captain to have won all three ICC trophies, the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy. Speaking of India’s current No. 1 ODI batter, Rohit has climbed two places to the top of the ICC rankings with 781 rating points. The Indian opener achieved this milestone at the age of 38, making him the oldest cricketer to become the top-ranked ODI batter.

Rohit’s ascent to the No. 1 spot comes on the back of his consistent performances in the three-match ODI series against Australia, where he amassed 202 runs in three innings at an impressive average of 101, including one century and one half-century.

Over his illustrious career, Rohit has scored 11,370 runs in 276 ODIs at an average of 49.22, with 33 centuries and 59 half-centuries to his name. His career-best rating of 882 points came after the 2019 World Cup clash against Sri Lanka at Headingley, during which he enjoyed phenomenal success, scoring 648 runs with five centuries, the most by any batter in a single World Cup edition.

Fewest innings taken by Indian batters to reach No.1 in ICC ODI rankings

• 38 – MS Dhoni

• 41 – Shubman Gill

• 102 – Sachin Tendulkar

• 112 – Virat Kohli

• 268 – Rohit Sharma