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Shubman Gill has reached a remarkable milestone and now finds himself among India's cricket legends. He is the fourth Indian cricketer to rank number one in the International Cricket Council's (ICC) One Day International (ODI) Batting Rankings. This achievement puts him in the company of cricket greats like Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli. Gill took over from Babar Azam, the captain of the Pakistan team, to claim the top position in the rankings that were updated on November 8.

MS Dhoni was the first to get to this rank in 2006, surpassing Ricky Ponting's record to become the fastest to reach this spot in his ODI career after playing just 38 innings. Dhoni enjoyed the number one rank until 2010 and remained in the top ten for a significant time even towards the end of his career. Sachin Tendulkar first saw himself at the top in 1996, with his last stint at the number one spot coming in 2008. Virat Kohli achieved the number one rank in 2013 and was the top-ranked ODI batter from 2017 to 2021.

Sachin Tendulkar - 1996 for the first time

MS Dhoni - 2010 for the first time

Virat Kohli - 2013 for the first time

Shubman Gill - 2023 for the first time

In the world of One Day International cricket this year, Shubman Gill has been nothing short of extraordinary. He's played 26 matches and scored an impressive total of 1449 runs. This includes five centuries, one of which was a massive double hundred. His achievements put him well ahead of another cricket star, Virat Kohli, who has scored 1155 runs in 24 matches.

Gill's journey to the top has been quick; he became the second-fastest Indian to reach the number one spot after playing just 41 innings. He has a remarkable run tally of 1917 from 35 matches, with an average score of 66.1 runs and a strike rate that's over 100. This year, he's been in especially fine form, with his 1449 runs coming at an average of 63 and a strike rate of 103.72.

His skills were on full display during the World Cup 2023, particularly in the match against Sri Lanka where he scored a dazzling 92 runs, contributing to his total of 219 runs in six innings at the tournament.

Even a battle with dengue couldn't keep him down for long. Showing great strength and perseverance, Gill recovered in time to play in the vital games, including a major match against Pakistan.

Looking forward, Gill has his sights set on the upcoming World Cup matches, aiming to continue his exceptional form when it counts the most, in the decisive stages of the tournament.