At 38, Rohit Sharma becomes oldest-ever number one ODI batter

New Delhi: Veteran Indian opener Rohit Sharma added a new chapter in his illustrious ODI career by becoming the new number ODI batter on Wednesday. At 38, Rohit scripted history by becoming the oldest batter to claim the number one spot in the rankings, surpassing legendary Sachin Tendulkar's record.

Rohit, who became the number one batter for the first time in his career, attained the feat at 38 years and 182 days while Tendulkar had attained the feat at 38 years and 73 days back in 2011. The Mumbai batter also dethroned current India Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, who had a below-par Australia tour.

Rohit attained the landmark on back of his two superb performances in Adelaide and Sydney against Australia. In the second ODI, he smashed a special half-century while in the third, he scored a magnificent century, his 50th in international cricket, to power India to a 9-wicket victory with aid from his partner Virat Kohli as well.

Rohit always held a spot in the top 10 of the bating rankings in the past decade but never climbed to the top position. Apart from Rohit, Axar is the only other Indian player to make some ground in the rankings this week as the rest of the lot remains at the same place. Axar has jumped six places to be at the 31st pot behind number one ranked Rashid Khan on the list of the ODI bowlers.

Meanwhile, he has improved four places to occupy the eighth position behind Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai in the ODI all-rounders rankings. In the top 10 of the ODI bowlers, there ae gains for New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner who is up to the fourth spot and Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood who has occupied the eighth position.

England right-hander Harry Brook improves 23 spots to move to 25th overall on the list for ODI batters. In the Test rankings on the other hand, South African spinner Keshav Maharaj has gained nine places to obtain a career-high rating of 13th place after a eight-wicket show against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. His teammate Simon Harmer rises 26 places to move to 45th after his six-wicket haul in the second innings of the same game.