Rohit Sharma closes in on Babar Azam in ICC men's ODI batter rankings

With 122 runs in two games, Sharma rises to third in ICC ODI rankings, trailing Babar Azam by 61 points

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Indian captain, Rohit Sharma, has been acknowledged for his outstanding recent performances with the bat, closing the gap on Pakistan's Babar Azam at the top of the ICC Men's ODI Batter Rankings.

Sharma tops the run-scoring charts in the first two matches of India's three-match series against Sri Lanka, scoring two half-centuries and accumulating 122 runs at a striking rate of 134.06.

The 37-year-old hit a swift 64 in the second game of the series in Colombo, elevating his ODI batter ranking to third place with 763 rating points, just 61 points behind Babar Azam.

Shubman Gill remains in second place despite scoring only 51 runs in the first two matches against Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, Axar Patel's 77 runs in the series have propelled him up 35 places to 178th in the ODI batter rankings.

From the Sri Lankan camp, Janith Liyanage has climbed 10 spots to 76th, and opener Avishka Fernando has moved up nine places to 88th in the rankings.

ICC men's ODI batting ranking. PHOTO: ICC

The latest update also saw significant movements in the ODI bowler rankings. India's spinner Kuldeep Yadav advanced five places to fourth after taking three wickets in two matches against Sri Lanka, including figures of 2/33 in the second match.

Sri Lanka's young spinner Dunith Wellalage rose five spots to 76th, and Axar Patel improved 37 places to 96th with his 1/36 in the second match.

Additionally, India all-rounder Washington Sundar and Sri Lanka spinner Jeffrey Vandersay made considerable gains.

Sundar jumped 45 places to 97th after his three-wicket haul in the second match, while Vandersay soared 64 spots to 105th following his impressive six-wicket performance in the same game.