Shubman Gill inches closer to ODI No. 1 spot after second match: here’s what’s next

Shubman Gill is now 12 rating points away from the ODI batting throne after his showing in the second match on 18 June.

What happened in the second ODI?

India’s top order again carried the chase on 18 June, with Shubman Gill finishing unbeaten on 78 off 83 balls as the hosts sealed a 6-wicket win over Zimbabwe. The innings pushed Gill’s ODI rating to 842, slotting him into second place behind Babar Azam (854) in the ICC rankings. The series is now 2-0 up for India, with the third and final ODI set for 20 June in Harare.

Why it matters for Shubman Gill

A win in the third ODI would lift Gill past Azam and hand him the world No. 1 ODI batter crown. Only 12 points separate the two after the second match, marking the closest Gill has been to the summit since he broke into the top five last year. His consistency across formats has kept him in the conversation for the top spot, though Azam’s recent form keeps the race unpredictable.

What comes next?

India will chase a target of 270 or more in the third ODI on 20 June if they bat first. Gill’s role at the top will be pivotal once again: he has already faced 145 balls across the first two ODIs, more than any other Indian batter. A big score here could seal his spot at the top for the first time in his career.

The race for ODI No. 1

Babar Azam still leads the chart with 854 points, but Gill’s rapid rise has turned the chase into a two-horse race. Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman sits third on 829, 21 points behind Azam. The final ODI will decide whether Gill ends the series as the world’s best ODI batter: or if Azam holds on for another month.