Rohit Sharma Becomes No.1 ODI Batter: A Historic Rise at 38

With the ODI batting rankings, Rohit Sharma stars for an unprecedented `oldest’ player ever to reach this top rating of in Men’s One-Day Internationals. The recent series in Australia set him up for the final proofs to permanently nail the cabinet shut on any talk of an imminent retirement into one of the most consistent yet explosive openers in cricket. 

Rohit Sharma Becomes No. 1 ODI Batter—Breaking Age and Performance Barriers

Rohit Sharma becomes No. 1 ODI batter in his long career, in the same league of wonderful cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar. Rohit Sharma stole the limelight after he dethroned his teammate Shubman Gill from the top duo after scoring a total of 202 runs in the three-match ODI series in Australia.

With this, Rohit becomes the second Indian ever, along with Sachin Tendulkar, to hold the number one rank after the age of 38. Tendulkar did this last in 2011 in the Test format, making it a wonderful benchmark that one Indian legend has set against another. 

“It is special at this stage of my life to perform well. I have always believed in experience,” stated Rohit after bringing the team home with a match-winning hundred at SCG. 

ICC ODI Batting Rankings — October 2025 Update

The latest ICC ODI batting rankings have been fully overtaken by the Indians, three of whom were in the top six-Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli. 

Rohit moved from 741 to 781 rating points, scoring runs and crucial matches, and coming back from a seven-month patchy phase in ODI cricket is perhaps one big decision in his life that marked one of the finest comebacks in contemporary cricket.

Rohit Sharma Becomes No.1 ODI Batter with a Record-Breaking Series in Australia

His good form from the three-match series in Australia saw Rohit Sharma regain the top spot in ODIs. He was the top run-maker of the series with 202 runs, which included a swashbuckling ton at SCG, while he played a vital role to take India over the line by 9 wickets in the glorious win of the third ODI match.

Rohit Sharma’s Record-Breaking Feats in Australia

• Most runs made by an Indian opener: 15,758 runs scored in 11 innings fewer than Virender Sehwag.
• Most hundreds in ODIs vs Australia: Joint record with Tendulkar (9 centuries each). 
• A hundred centuries in ODI, the second oldest Indian to get it: Only player other than Tendulkar at 38 y 327 d.

According to Winexchange, these records reaffirm that Rohit Sharma becomes No. 1 ODI batter is a record of consistency, which is characterized by an unquenchable thirst to evolve with age.

From Talent to Titan – Rohit’s Journey to the Top

The journey to No.1 for Rohit has been the journey of energy and revival. From a young talent recognizable for timing and grace to the face of a captain who delivers under pressure, his process has been incredible.

Having scored over 10,000 runs in ODIs with 33 hundreds since his debut in the 2007 ODI series, Rohit has five of those hundreds in memory of the 2019 World Cup, which turned out to be the most any batsman scored in one World Cup.

Even after 17 years in international cricket, an unquenchable thirst for runs continues to fuel the limited overs glory for the nation.

Rohit Sharma Becomes No.1 ODI Batter – A Legacy of Dominance

When Rohit Sharma climbs the ladder as a top-ranking ODI batsman, not only does this become an achievement in and by itself but it also talks a lot about the legacy. Rohit Sharma from India has said that form and fitness are the only things that matter, irrespective of age; he, therefore, has a fair claim to being the oldest cricketer ever to have been augmenting the ICC ODI batting list.

Rohit has proved his class beyond parallel with the greatest performances on the international stage against some of the toughest opponents in the game. Having regained his form with the Indian side, he now stands at the crossroads, staring down the barrel of the next big assignment, July 2027: The World Cup.

Rohit Sharma vs. Modern Rivals

While more dynamic youngsters like Gill and Zadran continue to wow the audience, Rohit Sharma is a testament to the fact that experience, adaptability, and match awareness make the number one ODI batsman and, more so, greatness from greatness. 

At Winexch, passion meets precision. Stay ahead with every cricket milestone, performance highlight, and expert insight-where every stat tells a story.

FAQs

1. Why did Rohit Sharma become No.1 in ICC ODI rankings?
   Rohit’s outstanding form in the Australia series, where he scored 202 runs, propelled him to the top of the ICC ODI batting rankings.
2. How old is Rohit Sharma now?
   Rohit Sharma is 38 years and 182 days old, making him the oldest player ever to reach No.1 in ICC ODI batting rankings.
3. Who held the No.1 ODI batter ranking before Rohit Sharma?
   His Indian teammate Shubman Gill held the No.1 spot before Rohit overtook him in October 2025.
4. How many ODI centuries has Rohit Sharma scored?
   Rohit has scored 33 ODI centuries, including nine against Australia, equalling Sachin Tendulkar’s record.
5. What records did Rohit Sharma break in Australia?
   He became India’s top run-scorer as an opener, equaled Tendulkar’s record for most hundreds as an opener, and extended his SENA dominance.