In a remarkable achievement, Shubman Gill, the 23-year-old Indian batter, claimed the coveted No.1 ranking in One Day Internationals (ODIs) on November 8, making him the second fastest Indian to achieve this distinction after the legendary MS Dhoni. Gill's ascent to the top spot in the ODI rankings comes after a stellar year in which he has consistently showcased his prowess with the bat.
Gill's remarkable journey to the No.1 ranking took only 41 innings, surpassing Pakistan's Babar Azam, who now holds the second position. Notably, the retired cricketing icon, MS Dhoni, remains the quickest to reach the No.1 ODI ranking, a feat he accomplished back in 2010, remarkably achieving the milestone in just 38 innings.
The young cricketer's meteoric rise has been underlined by his outstanding performances across formats in 2023, making him the leading run-scorer of the year. Gill is also on the cusp of reaching the impressive milestone of 2000 international runs in the same year. Earlier in 2023, he etched his name in the record books as the youngest batter to score a double century, demonstrating his prodigious talent.
Gill's remarkable run has continued into the ongoing World Cup 2023, where he has set new records. He recently became the fastest batter to reach 2000 runs in ODIs, eclipsing the previous record held by Hashim Amla. This significant milestone was achieved during India's match against New Zealand at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamsala.
Shubman Gill first burst onto the international scene when he was named the Player of the Tournament in the U19 World Cup in New Zealand five years ago, under the leadership of Prithvi Shaw. Subsequently, in 2018, Gill was recruited by the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he further honed his skills.
Although his international debut in 2019 during India's tour of New Zealand did not yield immediate success, Gill persevered and began to make his mark in the 2020-21 Border Gavaskar Trophy. Since then, in just over four years since his debut, he has become an integral part of India's batting lineup, particularly in the limited-overs format.
Shubman Gill's journey to the pinnacle of ODI rankings is a testament to his talent, dedication, and unwavering commitment to excellence in cricket.
