Shubman Gill and Maheesh Theekshana Claim Top ICC Rankings Ahead of Champions Trophy

In an exciting turn of events, Shubman Gill and Maheesh Theekshana have emerged as the new leaders in the ICC men’s ODI rankings as announced on the first day of the Champions Trophy. Gill, an Indian batting sensation, has overtaken Pakistan’s Babar Azam to claim the top batting position, while Sri Lankan spinner Theekshana has outperformed Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan to become the leading bowler. This rankings update reflects their remarkable performances, especially during recent series, setting a thrilling stage for the ongoing tournament.

Shubman Gill’s Stellar Performance

• Gill recently played a spectacular ODI series against England, helping India secure a 3-0 victory.
• He accumulated a total of 259 runs in three matches, with individual scores of 87, 60, and 112.
• His average stood at an impressive 86.33, accompanied by a strike rate of 103.60.
• Following Gill, Shreyas Iyer was the next highest scorer in the series with 181 runs, trailing by 78 runs.

Returning to the Top

This is the second time Gill has held the No. 1 position in ODI cricket, the first being during the 2023 ODI World Cup. His current rating stands at 796 points, leaving Babar Azam at a close second with 773 points. The top five ODI batters now also include:

• Rohit Sharma
• Heinrich Klaasen
• Daryl Mitchell

Maheesh Theekshana’s Rise in Bowling Rankings

• Theekshana’s performances in the recent home ODI series against Australia contributed to his rise, where he secured figures of 4 for 40 and none for 11.
• He is now ranked No. 1 among ODI bowlers with 680 rating points, just edging out Rashid Khan, who is in second place with 669 points.
• Other notable bowlers in the rankings include Bernard Scholtz from Namibia and India’s Kuldeep Yadav.

Notable Movements in the Rankings

Following the ODI series against England, Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka has made a significant leap to No. 8 in the rankings. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan also achieved a rise to the 15th position. Despite not qualifying for the Champions Trophy, both Asalanka and Theekshana demonstrated their capabilities leading up to the tournament.

While Gill and Theekshana shining brightly in the ICC rankings, the ongoing Champions Trophy offers them and their competitors a platform to further solidify their standings.

Conclusion

The ICC rankings update has set the stage for an exciting Champions Trophy, as both Shubman Gill and Maheesh Theekshana find themselves at the pinnacle of their respective categories. Their exceptional performances in recent ODIs exemplify the competitive nature of the sport and the ever-changing dynamics of cricket rankings.

Keywords: Shubman Gill, Maheesh Theekshana, ICC rankings, ODI batters, ODI bowlers, Champions Trophy, cricket news

Hashtags: #ShubmanGill #MaheeshTheekshana #ICCRankings #ODICricket #ChampionsTrophy #CricketNews

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