'It's like a tick mark' – Shubman Gill on reclaiming No. 1 ODI rank for batters, focus remains on helping India win

Shubman Gill has reflected on his achievement of reaching the ICC Men's ODI No. 1 batting ranking, describing the milestone in understated terms. The Indian batter reclaimed the top position after an impressive series against England, where he accumulated 188 runs across three matches. Gill's recent form has continued in the West Indies series, where he has amassed 333 runs across two matches, including a century and a double hundred.

Speaking about his ranking milestone, Gill explained the significance of the achievement while maintaining perspective on what truly matters in cricket. Gill first reached the No. 1-ranked position during the 2023 World Cup. He described the experience of achieving this personal milestone with a simple phrase that captures both the accomplishment and his measured approach to individual honours.

"The first time when I became the number one-ranked batsman, I think it was during the 2023 World Cup. And it felt good. As a kid, you look at the rankings, so it was like a tick mark that, 'Okay, once I want to become the number one-ranked ODI batsman.' So it feels good, but I think right now it doesn't matter as much. For me, it's more important that if you step out in a match, go to bat, then how you can make the team win, how you can contribute," Gill said on JioHotstar.

Gill's perspective on individual rankings versus team success

The batter's comments underscore a shift in his perspective from viewing rankings as childhood aspirations to prioritising match-winning contributions. Gill has now achieved the No. 1 position for the third time in his career, demonstrating consistent excellence at the international level. His current form in the West Indies series reflects his ability to deliver performances that benefit the team's overall objectives.

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India and West Indies played their third and final ODI of the series on Saturday at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh. Gill's performance across the series proved instrumental in India's campaign, with his 333 runs across two matches showcasing his batting prowess at the highest level of ODI cricket.