Dubai (UAE), March 5: The latest ICC ODI Rankings have seen significant changes, with Afghanistan’s all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai reaching the top spot among all-rounders and India’s star batter Virat Kohli moving up to number four among batters.
Omarzai’s rise to prominence has been swift and impressive. The 24-year-old Afghanistan all-rounder, who will celebrate his 25th birthday later this month, now holds the number one position after a spectacular ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign. His outstanding performances included a maiden five-wicket haul against England and a half-century against Australia, cementing his place at the top of the all-rounder rankings.
In the Champions Trophy, Omarzai amassed 126 runs in three innings at an average of 42.00, with a strike rate of over 104. His 41-run knock and five-wicket haul against England, along with a gritty 67 against Australia, were the highlights. He also claimed seven wickets in three matches at an average of 20.00, with his best figures being 5/58.
Omarzai’s ascent has resulted in the dethroning of his teammate Mohammad Nabi, who drops to second place on the all-rounder list. Omarzai’s remarkable rise also earned him a career-high rating of 296 points. India’s Axar Patel also saw a significant rise, moving up 17 spots to 13th with a career-best 194 rating points.
Apart from his success in the all-rounder category, Omarzai’s impressive batting in the Champions Trophy propelled him to 24th position in the ODI batter rankings, climbing 12 spots after his 126 total runs in the tournament.
Afghanistan’s Champions Trophy success also saw Ibrahim Zadran make a notable jump in the batting rankings, climbing 13 spots to 10th with 676 rating points after his scintillating 177-run performance against England. Australia’s Steve Smith also climbed six spots to 16th after his contributions in the tournament, including a half-century against India.
New Zealand’s Kane Williamson moved up eight spots to 29th following a gritty 81 against India in Dubai, while India’s Shubman Gill remained in the number four spot for ODI batters. His teammate, Virat Kohli, jumped to fourth following his Player of the Match performance in the Champions Trophy semi-final against Australia. Kohli has been one of the top performers in the ongoing tournament, scoring 217 runs in four innings at an average of 72.33, including a century and a fifty.
In the bowling rankings, New Zealand’s Matt Henry earned a significant boost, climbing three spots to third place (649 rating points) after an excellent Champions Trophy. He is now behind Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana (first) and South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj (second). India’s Mohammed Shami also saw a rise, moving up three spots to 11th (609 rating points), while South Africa’s Marco Jansen surged nine places to 18th, and England’s Jofra Archer climbed 13 spots to share 19th.
Key Features:
- Azmatullah Omarzai becomes the top-ranked ODI all-rounder after a brilliant Champions Trophy campaign.
- Virat Kohli moves to fourth place in the ODI batter rankings following a stellar performance in the Champions Trophy.
- Significant rises in rankings for several players, including Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, and Mohammed Shami.
- Matt Henry climbs into the top three in the ODI bowler rankings after a successful tournament.
Key Model:
- Explosive performances in ICC tournaments leading to dramatic rankings shifts.
- Rising stars from emerging cricket nations (e.g., Afghanistan) making a mark in the international scene.
- Veteran players maintaining their spot in the rankings through consistent performances.