In the latest ICC ODI Rankings, India's Shubman Gill has become the number one batsman by defeating Pakistan's Babar Azam, who has been the number one batsman in ODIs for a long time. Shubman has achieved number one ranking in ODI for the first time with 830 rating points. At the same time, India's Mohammad Siraj has once again achieved the number one position among ODI bowlers. He achieved the first position leaving behind Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi.

Also Read: International Cricket Council reveals the latest players shortlisted for the ICC Player of the Month

Shubman is currently the leading run-scorer in ODIs and international cricket this year. He is also nearing the landmark of 2000, thereby becoming the first batter to do so. Although, Gill has not really been at his best in the ongoing World Cup. He has so far scored two half-centuries, including a classy 92 against Sri Lanka after missing India's first two matches due to dengue.

Apart from Gill, the ranking of Virat Kohli, who is in excellent form, has also improved in the latest ICC ODI Rankings. He jumped three places and has reached the fourth position. In addition, Kohli's rating point is one point less than third-placed Quinton de Kock. Virat has so far scored 543 runs in this ICC ODI World Cup 2023. There have been many changes in the top 10 rankings of batsmen and bowlers.

There has been a huge upheaval in the ICC ODI Rankings in bowling that existed before the start of this World Cup and it has completely changed. Four bowlers from India have made their place in the top 10 ODI bowlers. Indian bowling has looked the best so far in this World Cup and they have benefited from this. India has played eight matches and taken 76 wickets.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Siraj has once again achieved the top ranking in ODIs. He left Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi behind. Shaheen, on the other hand, dropped five places down to No.5. Afridi had a tough day against New Zealand when he bowled Pakistan's most expensive spell in the history of the World Cup.

At the same time, Kuldeep Yadav has reached fourth position with a jump of three places while Jasprit Bumrah has improved by three places to reach eighth position. At the same time, Mohammed Shami jumped seven places and reached 10th position. All four have reached the top 10 ICC ODI Rankings list of bowlers.

Mohammed Siraj, who has had a sensational year with the ball in ODIs, started the World Cup slowly but picked pace and delivered a stunning show against Sri Lanka, the same team which he destroyed in the final of the Asia Cup 2023 with a six-wicket haul in September.

Also Read: ODI World Cup 2023: Shakib Al Hasan rules out of Bangladesh's final match due to fracture in his left index finger

ICC ODI Rankings: Batting

ICC ODI Rankings: Bowling

After the Champions Trophy 2025, India's target in ODI cricket will be the ODI World Cup 2027. In such a situation, know what is Team India's ODI schedule till the World Cup 2027. The Men in Blue have to play a total of 9 series in the next ICC ODI tournament, which includes 27 matches.

Apart from this, some more ODI matches can be scheduled near the tournament. So, know what is the ODI schedule of Indian Cricket Team till 2027 and when India will face which team.

Also Read: The Kohli Effect: Will Indian fans lose interest in Test cricket after Virat Kohli's retirement?

The ODI World Cup2027 will be held around October to December. Before this, the Indian team is going to play a lot of matches. India have to play 3-match ODI series against 8 teams. They will play series twice against one country.

India will play New Zealand twice

India will play Australia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, West Indies and Sri Lanka once each in the upcoming ODI series, while it will play New Zealand twice. Out of the nine series, India will play six series at home, while the rest will be held outside the country.

It will start with the tour of Bangladesh in August, which will be played this year. In October-November 2025, India has to play a three-match ODI series on its tour of Australia. South Africa's team will tour India in November-December.

India will host Sri Lankan team in December 2026

In January 2026, the New Zealand team will play an ODI series in India. After this, India has to play a three-match series against Afghanistan in June. In July 2026, Team India will have to play the same number of ODI series on its tour of England.

The West Indies team is scheduled to tour India in September-October. There will be an ODI series against New Zealand at home in October-November. India will host the Sri Lankan team for an ODI series in December 2026.

Also Read: Fav four in Test cricket: Kohli vs Root vs Williamson vs Smith stats in Tests

India's ODI schedule till World Cup 2027

The ICC has officially announced that the Final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be held at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground on 5th July. The news was shared during a special launch event at Lord’s on 1st May.

Alongside this major reveal, it was confirmed that the matches will also be played at other popular venues across England, including Edgbaston, the Hampshire Bowl, Headingley, Old Trafford, The Oval, and the Bristol County Ground.

The tournament is set to kick off on 12th June and will run for 24 days, featuring a total of 33 matches leading up to the highly anticipated final at Lord’s. The complete match schedule is expected to be released soon.

Featuring a record 12 teams, the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will be the biggest edition in the tournament’s history. With two more teams than the previous edition, fans can expect fierce competition as the world’s top sides battle it out for the title.

Read Also | Bengal Women's Cricket Exclusive: Two out of two finals, record chase against Haryana, Jhulan Goswami, WPL and more

Qualified Teams for the Women's T20 World Cup 2026

Four additional teams will join them through the Qualifier scheduled next year.

The 12 teams will be split into two groups of six for the group stage, followed by the knockout rounds and finals.

Official Statement

ICC Chairman Jay Shah opened up about the tournament, saying, "The confirmation of venues represents a defining moment as we build towards the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026"

"The sell-out Women’s Cricket World Cup final at Lord’s in 2017 remains a landmark in the rise of the women’s game, and I cannot think of a more fitting stage for the final."

"As we turn our focus to preparing for the tournament, we are excited by the promise of thrilling T20 action that will not only captivate fans here but also serve as a showcase for cricket’s return on the Olympic stage in Los Angeles 2028."

Legacy

Moving on from the most recent edition, hosted by Bangladesh in the UAE in 2024, saw New Zealand claim their first-ever title, defeating South Africa by 32 runs in the final.

The 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup will mark the milestone 10th edition of the tournament, which began in 2009.

The IPL has transformed the landscape of T20 format, providing a grand stage for Indian batters to show their power-hitting skills. Players have taken this platform to another level by showcasing their extraordinarily six-hitting capabilities.

We have seen a great display of fearless batting over the years from both youngsters and experienced players.

Let's dive into the amazing list of most sixes in an innings by an Indian in IPL and recall those golden moments.

Murali Vijay (11 sixes) vs RR | 2010

IPL has changed quite a few things over the years, but what remains constant is the six-hitting show in every season. Murali Vijay is still holding his name for the highest record by smashing 11 sixes against the Rajasthan Royals while playing for CSK in IPL 2010.

His explosive innings of 127 runs off just 56 balls not only led CSK to a huge total of 246 but also set the record for the most sixes in an innings by an Indian in IPL.

Read Also: IPL records: Most consecutive away wins in IPL history

Vaibhav Suryavanshi (11 sixes) vs GT | 2025

The record breaking season of IPL 2025 has witnessed some stunning ones this year. The 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who made headlines by scoring an astonishing century against Gujarat Titans, has also marked his name in the record for most sixes in an innings by an Indian in IPL. 

Vaibhav is the youngest debutant in the history of IPL, who smashed 101 in 35 balls in his third match for RR. He hit 11 sixes and 7 fours in his record-breaking knock, and is also the fastest and youngest Indian batter to score the fastest century in IPL history. 

Read Also: Exclusive: "Do not call him a 'baccha', he will play T20s for India in two years," says Bihar head coach after Vaibhav Suryavanshi's historical IPL ton

Sanju Samson (10 sixes) vs RCB | 2018

Sanju Samson lit up the Chinnaswamy stadium with his magnificent knock of 92 runs off 45 balls, against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2018. He hit a total of 10 sixes in his inning and earned his spot in the list of most sixes in an innings by an Indian in IPL.

Though he fell short of a century, this knock clearly revealed how destructive he can be with his six-hitting abilities.

Shreyas Iyer (10 sixes) vs KKR | 2018

Shreyas Iyer delivered 10 super sixes in a match against Kolkata Knight Riders and helped DC to reach a total of 219 runs in IPL 2017. He showcased a rare side of him with the bat and scored 93 runs from 40 balls, also grabbing the player of the match title.

Iyer is known for his calm nature on-field, which left the fans wanting for more with this surprising aggressive knock and rain of sixes.

Shubman Gill (10 sixes) vs MI | 2023

The prince of Indian cricket, Shubman Gill, scored a jaw-dropping 129 runs off 60 balls in the IPL 2023 Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians. With 10 monstrous sixes to his name, Gill contributed to the 233 total and sealed the victory that helped reach GT the finals.

Read Also: Weird Styles: Indian players with unusual bowling actions

Abhishek Sharma (10 sixes) vs PBKS | 2025

Another record-breaking ton of the IPL 2025 that came off Abhishek Sharma’s bat against the Punjab Kings. He scored 141 runs off 55 balls and became the highest-scoring Indian batsman for the record of highest individual scores in IPL history. 

Abhishek hit 10 sixes in his knock and helped Sunrisers Hyderabad to break their losing streak and keep their playoff hopes alive.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the Central Contract for the 2025-26 season on Monday, 21st April 2025. 7 new players were added to the contract, while players like Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan returned to the list after missing out last time.

Last year, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan were left out of the BCCI central contract after opting out of the domestic games for their respective state teams. BCCI's focus on domestic cricket left them out of the central contract despite being part of the Indian team set up a few months ago.

But, this time, both the Indian batters were added to the contract after Iyer won everything in the domestic cricket last season, along with lifting the IPL 2024 with Kolkata Knight Riders. Ishan Kishan also played through the entire domestic season and has been rewarded with the contract too. 

Read Also | "Mere Sath Kyun?.:" Ishan Kishan breaks silence on Team India exit and Central Contract termination

Talking points from the BCCI Central Contract 2025

Rohit and Kohli stay in Grade A+ 

Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remained in the Grade A+ category despite retiring from the T20I format. Rohit and Virat had announced their retirement from the shortest format of the game after lifting the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies. 

Ravindra Jadeja is another name who has been listed in the A+ category despite retiring from the T20Is after the World Cup victory.

Bumrah is the only all-format player in A+

With Rohit, Kohli and Jadeja retiring from the shortest format of the game, Jasprit Bumrah remains the only all-format player to be in the A+ category of the BCC Central Contract 2025.

Pant is promoted to the Grade A category

Rishabh Pant received a promotion to the A category after being in the B category last year. Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya and Mohammed Shami are the other names in the A category, who were already there in last year's contract. 

Ravi Ashwin has been left out of the contract since he retired from international cricket.

Iyer listed in grade B; Kishan in grade C

Shreyas Iyer, who was left out of the contract last year, has been included in the Grade B, while Ishan Kishan has been listed in the Grade C. 

Suryakumar Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Yashasvi Jaiswal are the other names in Grade B, who were there last time as well. 

New 7 names in Grade C

7 new players have been added to the BCCI Central Contract 2025. All of these players found themselves in Grade C. 

Dhruv Jurel, Sarafraz Khan, Nitish Reddy, Abhishek Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana, and Akash Deep are the players who received the contract for their performances in the last season. 

Not to be confused, Akash Deep earlier had a fast bowling contract and this year received the central contract after doing well in the Test format. 

Shardul Thakur, Jitesh Sharma, KS Bharath, Avesh Khan, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Umran Malik, Yash Dayal and Vidwath Kaverappa have been left out of the contract this year.

Vijaykumar Vyshak, Umran Malik, Yash Dayal and Vidwath Kaverappa were all part of the fast bowling contract last season. 

BCCI Central Contract 2025

BCCI announces annual player retainership 2024-25 - Team India (Senior Men) 💙🤝#Bcci #IndianCricket #Viratkohli #RohitSharma #jaspritbumrah #Shreyasiyer #KlRahul #HardikPandya #Ipl2025 pic.twitter.com/LSmlg06QOS

— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) April 21, 2025

The Indian Premier League is just around the corner with the tournament set to start on 22 March.

As usual, it is highly anticipated and is set to draw a huge viewing audience.

Also Read: IPL Facts: Which player has lost the most games in IPL history?

As we move towards the first fixture, between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, let’s take a moment to go back in time and see which batsmen have scored the most runs in IPL since 2018.

Most Runs in IPL (2018-2024)

8. Suryakumar Yadav | 2986 Runs

Suryakumar Yadav had his IPL debut in 2011 for MI. But he got his breakthrough in KKR under Gautam Gambhir but didn't perform up to that level. 2018 saw him return to the Mumbai Indians, where he made massive strides in his IPL career.

Surya has scored 2986 runs during this period in 84 games at an average of 35.55 and a strike rate of 148.71. He has two centuries and 23 half-centuries to his name. He struck 440 boundaries, including 331 fours and 109 sixes.

In 2023, he had his greatest IPL season, where he was appointed as the vice-captain of MI along with scoring 605 runs with a strike rate of 181.14 in 16 innings.

7. Sanju Samson | 2993 Runs

Rajasthan Royals' skipper and wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson has always been a player to rely on in the IPL. He has scored 2993 runs during the 2018-2024 season with two centuries and 18 half-centuries.

IPL 2024 was one of the best seasons for Samson with the bat as he amassed 531 runs at an impressive average of 48.27 and a strike rate of 153.46. He also led the team to the playoffs for the second time after taking over the reins in IPL 2021.

6. Jos Buttler | 3055 Runs

Jos Buttler comes sixth in the list scoring 3055 runs in 73 matches at an average of 41.85 and a strike rate of 147.80. He has seven centuries and 18 half-centuries to his name.

Buttler had an unforgettable 2022 season, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with 863 runs at an average of 57.53 and a blistering strike rate of 149.05.

The England star smashed four centuries and four half-centuries, playing a crucial role in Rajasthan Royals’ journey to the final. His ability to accelerate and play match-winning innings made him one of the standout performers of the season.

5. Shikhar Dhawan | 3208 Runs

Shikhar Dhawan is fifth on the list of most runs in IPL since 2018. He has been a consistent run-getter over this period, crossing the 400-run mark each season from 2018 to 2024. 

Dhawan has 3208 runs in 83 games at an average of 38.65 and a strike rate of 133.56, including 2 hundred and 23 half-centuries, with the help of 367 fours and 82 sixes. 

His best season came in 2020 when he made 618 runs with 2 hundred and 4 fifties. 

4. Shubman Gill | 3216 Runs

Shubman Gill made his IPL debut in 2018 season and scored 3216 runs so far in 85 matches at an average of 37.84 and a strike rate of 135.70. 

Gill was the leading run-scorer of IPL 2023, amassing 890 runs in 17 matches at an impressive average of 59.33. His strike rate of 157.80 included 3 centuries and 4 half-centuries, with a highest score of 129. He also smashed 85 fours and 33 sixes throughout the tournament.

Gill’s heroics helped Gujarat Titans reach the 2023 final, making him a player to watch for many seasons to come.

3. Faf du Plessis | 3276 Runs

Faf Du Plessis, who guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to the playoffs last season, has the most runs in IPL during 2018-2024 period. He has scored 3276 runs in 84 matches at an average of 39.01 and a strike rate of 140.04.

He was also sensational with the bat as he scored 438 runs in 2022 season. It came after a brilliant run with the bat in 2023 when he scored over 700 runs for RCB.

Prior to his stint with Bangalore, Du Plessis enjoyed a highly successful tenure with the Chennai Super Kings, winning IPL titles in 2018 and 2021. 

The Proteas batter boasts an impressive record in the overall tournament, scoring 4,571 runs in 145 matches, including 37 half-centuries.

Also Read: Most Wickets in IPL history

2. Virat Kohli | 3586 Runs

Despite Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s struggles in recent seasons, Virat Kohli continued to shine with the bat in every season. He amassed 3586 runs since 2018 season at an average of 40.29 and a strike rate of 134.7, reminding everyone why he is one of the greatest batsmen in T20 cricket.

Kohli has four centuries and 25 half-centuries to his name. His IPL career has seen him hit 339 fours and 163 sixes during this period.

Kohli also scored the most runs in IPL in history with 8004 runs in 252 matches, including 8 centuries and 55 fifties.

1. KL Rahul | 3958 Runs

KL Rahul has hammered 3,958 runs in 79 matches since the start of IPL 2018. He has scored the most runs in IPL this period. 

The tally includes four tons and 33 fifties. Rahul is the only batter to slam 3,000-plus IPL runs in this period. Shikhar Dhawan (3,208), the only other batter to score 2,500-plus since IPL 2018, follows Rahul on this tally.