Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has outperformed everyone in the recently conducted Pakistan vs Australia series. After the completion of the series, Babar remains at the top spot in ICC ODI Men's batting rankings with 891 rating points and got a lead of 80 points. Meanwhile, he has already overtaken Virat Kohli a few days ago and now got a huge lead in the series.
Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq in the 2nd ODI against Australia Image - NDTV Sports
However, in the same series, Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq has surpassed Rohit Sharma to become the third-ranked batsman in the rankings table. So, without any further delay let's check out the top 10 list of the latest ICC ODI batting rankings (Men).
Indian star opener Smriti Mandhana has regained the number one spot in the women's ICC ODI rankings for the first time since November 2019, according to the latest update released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old Mandhana has moved up one place to return to the top spot while South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt has slipped to joint second place with new England skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt after scoring 27 and 28 in the first two ODIs against the West Indies.
Mandhana now sits comfortably with 727 rating points after Wolvaardt held the top spot for over six months. The Indian star batsman has been in great form lately and scored the 11th century of her career, amassing 264 runs across five outings with a 52.80 averae and a strike rate of 90.41 during India's recent tri-series final against Sri Lanka and South Africa in Colombo.
Mandhana named ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year
The India vice-captain had a stellar run in ODIs in 2024, following which she was named as the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year, scoring more runs than she ever has before in a calendar year, racking up 747 runs in 13 innings. Mandhana is one of only four women to record at least 10 centuries, with her 4473 runs standing 10th on the all-time charts.
Mandhana’s rating points currently eight ahead of newly-appointed England skipper Natalie Sciver-Brunt at 719 points. Wolvaardt dropped to equal second alongside Sciver-Brunt, while fellow South African’s Tazmin Brits (up five spots to 27th) and Sune Luus (up seven places to 42nd) are among the big movers this week on the list for ODI batters.
Jemimah Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur, being the only other Indian batters in the top 30, placed at 15th and 16th, respectively.
ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 Full Schedule announced; India to face Pakistan on October 5
The ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 schedule was revealed on Monday, with hosts India and Sri Lanka slated to play the opener at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on September 30.
The schedule of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 has been released. The Women's World Cup will begin on September 30 with hosts India playing their first match against Sri Lanka at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
The eight-team tournament will be a round-robin format with the top four teams advancing to the semi-finals. The much-awaited final will be played on November 2. Australia will begin their campaign against New Zealand on October 1 at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore.
India vs Pakistan Match details
Due to tension between India and Pakistan, Pakistan will play all its matches in Colombo, Sri Lanka under the hybrid hosting model agreed upon by BCCI and PCB. In such a situation, the teams playing with Pakistan including India will go to Colombo, which is a neutral venue.
The most awaited match of the group stage between India and Pakistan will be played on 5th October in Colombo.
Women's Cricket World Cup 2025: Venues
India : Bengaluru, Guwahati, Indore, Visakhapatnam
Sri Lanka : Colombo
The tournament will be held at five major venues in the two countries. Bengaluru and Colombo have been shortlisted as potential hosts for the final.
Mitchell Starc surpassed Mohammed Shami to became the leading wicket taker in ICC finals. So, let's take a look at the bowlers with most wickets in ICC tournament finals.
Australia's star fast bowler Mitchell Starc added a big achievement to his name on Wednesday by becoming the bowler to take the most wickets in ICC tournament finals. Starc achieved this feat by taking two wickets on the first day of the World Test Championship 2025 final against South Africa at Lord's. Starc, playing his fifth ICC final, has taken 11 wickets so far and is expected to increase it.
With this, Starc also broke the record of Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami as soon as he took the second wicket. This record was earlier in the name of Shami, who had taken 10 wickets in four ICC finals.
So, let's take a look at the bowlers with most wickets in ICC tournament finals.
Most Wickets in ICC Tournament Finals
6. Glenn McGrath | 8 Wickets
The former legendary Australia pacer Glenn McGrath featured in a total of 5 ICC finals for the Baggy Greens and took 8 Wickets for his team. McGrath was one of Australia’s most important players for several years and he always stepped-up big time in finals of major tournaments.
McGrath was the second-highest wicket-taker in the 2002 edition of the ICC tournament with 8 wickets in 3 matches after Muttaih Muralidharan who has claimed 10 wickets in as many games.
5. Kyle Jamieson | 8 Wickets
New Zealand fast bowler Kyle Jamieson also took 8 Wickets in the ICC tournament finals after appearing in 3 innings. In the 2019–2021 World Test Championship Final, Jamieson was named as the man of the match, after taking seven wickets, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings.
4. Ravindra Jadeja | 8 Wickets
Ravindra Jadeja comes fourth on this list. Jadeja’s evolution from a utility player to a match-winner is reflected in his 8 ICC final appearances. In his 8 finals, Jadeja dismissed 8 players in ICC tournament finals.
His all-round prowess was key to India’s Champions Trophy triumph in 2013, where he was the leading wicket-taker. He has since played vital roles in T20 World Cup finals and two successive WTC finals (2021, 2023), as well as the 2025 Champions Trophy.
3. Trent Boult | 8 Wickets
New Zealand's veteran pacer Trent Boult is true to the 'big-match player' tag with 8 wickets in his 4 ICC Finals. Boult played a massive role in the Kiwis' success in ICC tournaments and gave brilliant bowling performances in the finals as well.
Boult was also the joint leading wicket taker at the 2015 Cricket World Cup. In 2018, he became the third bowler for New Zealand to take a hat-trick in ODIs.
2. Mohammed Shami | 10 Wickets
India's star bowler Mohammed Shami now comes second in this list. In four ICC finals, Shami has taken 10 wickets at an average of 38.90, an economy rate of 3.95 and best bowling figures of 4/76 in the WTC final 2021 against New Zealand.
Shami is also the leading wicket-taker among Indian bowlers in ODI World Cups and also led all bowlers in the 2023 edition with 24 wickets in seven outings. He continued his magical run in ICC events with a five-wicket haul in his maiden Champions Trophy game (ongoing contest against Bangladesh).
Australia's pace ace Mitchell Starc has became the highest wicket-taker in ICC tournament finals. The left-arm quick achieved the milestone during the World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa at Lord's. Starc, playing in his fifth ICC final, has now taken 11 wickets across tournament deciders.
The milestone came in style as Starc struck early in South Africa's second innings, cleaning up Aiden Markram for a duck. He followed it up with the dismissal of Ryan Rickelton for 16, ending Day 1 with figures of 2/10 in a fiery spell.
He also became the joint second-highest wicket taker in ICC knockout games. He is sharing the spot with former Aussie legend Glenn McGrath and Mohammed Shami, who each have taken 22 wickets. The top spot is with former Sri Lankan great Muttiah Muralitharan, who has 23 wickets.
6 cricketers who announced their retirements since last month
The cricket world bid farewell to six prominent players as they drew curtains on stellar international careers in just one month. From unparalleled Kohli to power-hitter Maxwell, here are 6 crickters who announced their retirements since last month.
The cricket world, known for its constant evolution, has seen a drastic shift in a month. Over the past month, six notable players have chosen to conclude their careers on the global stage.
From legendary batsmen to powerful all-rounders, these departures mark a significant moment in the history of cricket. These aren't just names; they are players who have shaped matches and won the hearts of millions.
Explore the list of 6 cricketers who announced their retirements since last month.
1. Rohit Sharma (Test retirement) | May 7, 2025
Rohit Sharma celebrating his first century as an opener in tests in 2019. Image | Daily Excelsior
On May 7, 2025, Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket, marking the end of his remarkable journey as a batsman, as well as India's captain in tests. His test career lasted for 12 years since his debut in 2013.
Sharma transformed himself into a brilliant test opener in the latter half of his career. One of his defining moments in Test cricket arrived in 2019 against South Africa, where he hammered a majestic 212 runs as an opener, showcasing his ability to wear down opposition attacks.
He is the fifth-most successful Test captain for India, leading to 12 Test victories.
Rohit Sharma's stats in tests:
Span
Innings
Runs
Avg
SR
HS
50
100
2013-2024
116
4302
40.6
57.1
212
18
12
2. Virat Kohli (Test retirement) | May 12, 2025
Virat Kohli celebrating his century against WI in 2023. Image | Instagram
Following Rohit's retirement, India lost the era's most dominant force in test cricket. The announcement of Virat Kohli's test retirement on May 12, 2025, resonated globally, leaving everyone shocked and upset.
Kohli approached the test format with a fierce competitive spirit and hunger for runs. His dedication and skill set in this format saw him notch 7 double centuries in his test career. He also became the most successful test captain of India during the 8 years (Dec 2014-Jan 2022) of his captaincy tenure, leading to 40 wins.
This decision of Kohli to step away from tests also brought the interests of Indian fans in tests in question. This retirement indeed marked the end of an era.
Virat Kohli's stats in tests:
Span
Innings
Runs
Avg
SR
HS
50
100
2011-2025
210
9230
46.85
55.57
254*
3
30
3. Angelo Mathews (Test retirement) | May 23, 2025
Angelo Mathews in tests. Image | Mint
Sri Lanka's enduring test pillar, Angelo Mathews, concluded his test career on May 23, 2025. He left behind a legacy of resilience and crucial performances as an all-rounder.
Mathews possessed the ability to adapt his game and accelerate when required. His unbeaten 200 runs against Zimbabwe in 2020 stand out as one of his vital contributions. He also took a total of 33 wickets in tests.
He led Sri Lanka in 34 matches as a captain and won 13 among them.
Angelo Mathews' stats in tests:
Span
Innings
Runs
Avg
SR
HS
50
100
2009-2025
210
8167
44.62
48.45
200*
45
16
4. Glenn Maxwell (ODIs Retirement) | June 2, 2025
Glen Maxwell celebrating his 201* against Afghanistan in 2023 ODI World Cup. Image | Pinterest
Australia's one of the most captivating hitters and match-winners, Glenn Maxwell, announced retirement from ODIs on June 2, 2025. Known for his explosive strokeplay and ability to turn the game around, he had an amazing ODI career.
Maxwell's career has many moments to highlight, but nothing can match his astonishing 201* runs against Afghanistan in the 2023 Cricket World Cup. Coming back with a back injury, this innings was a masterclass in aggressive and controlled batting.
He snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, which goes down in the history of ODI cricket.
Glenn Maxwell's stats in ODIs:
Span
Innings
Runs
Wickets
Avg
SR
HS
50
100
2012-2025
136
3990
77
(in 119 innings)
33.81
126.70
201*
23
4
5. Heinrich Klaasen (International retirement) | June 2, 2025
Heinrich Klaasen celebrating his 109 off 67 balls against England in 2023 World Cup. Image| TOI
On June 2, 2025, Heinrich Klaasen announced his international retirement, which marked the end of a relatively short yet impactful career as a destructive batsman in white-ball cricket.
Since his international debut for South Africa in 2018, he has been a hard-hitter of the ball and has become one of the most feared finishers in limited-overs formats. His phenomenal 174 runs off just 83 balls against Australia in an ODI in 2023 stands as a testament to his raw hitting power and ability.
Heinrich Klaasen's international stats (2018-2025)
Format
Innings
Runs
Avg
SR
HS
50
100
T20Is
53
1000
23.25
141.84
81
5
0
ODIs
56
2141
43.69
117.05
174
11
4
Tests
8
104
13.00
45.21
35
0
0
6. Nicholas Pooran (International retirement) | June 10, 2025
Nicholas Pooran celebrating his knock of 113 runs against Sri Lanka in 2019 World Cup. Image | BBC
The West Indies batter, Nicholas Pooran, announced his international retirement on June 10, 2025, at the age of just 29. This marked one of the earliest retirements for a high-profile West Indies player.
As a left-hander wicket-keeper batsman, Pooran quickly established himself as an electrifying hitter in white-ball cricket. He brought an aggressive approach to the crease, with the potential to turn the game in his favour.
He has done exceptionally well in his short-lived international career. His 98 runs off 53 balls against Afghanistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup perfectly tell the story of his talent.
Nicholas Pooran's international stats (2016-2025):
Till now, 11 Indian cricketers have been inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. Former Indian captain and legend MS Dhoni became the latest Indian to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame list.
Along with MS Dhoni, Aussie great Matthew Hayden, South African legend Hashim Amla, former South African captain Graeme Smith, former Kiwi leader Daniel Vettori, and former Pakistan captain Sana Mir and English legend Sarah Taylor were also inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame 2025.