Indian top-order batsmen Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma have significantly improved their positions in the latest ICC Men's ODI batting rankings, following strong performances in the recent series against England. However, despite this batting prowess, no Indian bowler currently features in the top 10 of the ODI bowling rankings. The updated rankings, released on July 22, 2026, show New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell holding the top spot in batting, while Afghanistan's Rashid Khan leads the bowling charts.[timesofindia+11]
Indian Batting Strength Dominates
Shubman Gill, India's captain, now sits at the second position in the ODI batting rankings, accumulating 801 rating points. He is just one point behind New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell, who maintains his lead with 802 points. Gill's climb comes after a productive series against England, where he scored 188 runs across three matches, including an unbeaten 80, 31, and 77.His consistent form positions him on the brink of becoming the world's top-ranked ODI batter.[timesofindia+12]
Veteran batsman Virat Kohli holds the third spot with 767 rating points. Kohli displayed his enduring class by scoring two half-centuries in the three-game series against England, reinforcing his status as a formidable force in the 50-over format.His ability to deliver impactful performances consistently keeps him firmly among the global elite.[timesofindia+11]
Opening batsman Rohit Sharma made significant gains, climbing to fourth place with 758 rating points. His magnificent knock of 138 in the Lord's decider against England was a standout performance, helping him close the gap on Kohli to just nine rating points.This strong showing from India's top three batsmen highlights the team's formidable batting lineup in One-Day Internationals.Middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer also saw an improvement, moving up two places to 13th after scoring a fighting 66 in the second ODI in Cardiff.[timesofindia+23]
No Indian Bowler in Top Ten
Despite the impressive performance of India's batsmen, the latest ICC ODI rankings reveal a notable absence of Indian bowlers in the top 10. This marks a significant contrast in the team's overall standing in the 50-over format.Previously, spinner Kuldeep Yadav was the sole Indian representative in the top 10, but he has now dropped three places to 11th.His absence from the recent three-match series against England contributed to this decline in his ranking.[hindustantimes+5]
Other prominent Indian bowlers are also outside the elite bracket. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah climbed one place to 23rd in the rankings.Young pacer Arshdeep Singh, however, saw a slight dip, moving down three places to a joint 30th position.All-rounder Axar Patel, who also plays a crucial role with the ball, gained 10 slots to reach joint 32nd in the bowling rankings.The disparity between India's batting and bowling presence at the top of the ICC rankings raises questions about the team's bowling depth and its ability to consistently challenge the best bowling attacks globally. The top-ranked ODI bowler globally remains Afghanistan's leg-spinner Rashid Khan, with 682 points, followed by Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed and England's Jofra Archer.[hindustantimes+10]
Recent Series Provides Context
These ranking updates follow India's three-match ODI series against England, which England won 2-1.While India's top batsmen delivered strong individual performances, the team's overall bowling effort did not yield similar results in terms of individual rankings. England's veteran batsman Joe Root was a major beneficiary in the batting rankings, making a strong return to the top 10.Root, who was named Player of the Series, climbed four places to eighth position after remaining unbeaten throughout the series, with scores of 76, 99, and 74.This marks his return to the top 10 for the first time since 2020.England opener Ben Duckett also made significant progress, jumping 11 places to joint 19th after his record-breaking knock of 141 at Lord's.[timesofindia+37]
The current rankings underscore India's formidable batting strength in One-Day International cricket, with three key players positioned prominently at the top. However, the absence of any Indian bowler in the top 10 highlights an area requiring focus for the team's balanced development and future success in global tournaments.
