According to the latest ICC player rankings, India’s captain Rohit Sharma has become the No.1 ODI batter. Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran secured second place, India’s Shubman Gill ranked third, while Pakistan’s Babar Azam slipped to the fourth position.
In the ODI bowlers’ list, Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan retained his top spot thanks to his exceptional performances.
Meanwhile, in the Test rankings, Pakistan’s Shan Masood climbed five places to reach 42nd, whereas wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan dropped five spots to 21st. Among Test bowlers, Pakistan’s Nauman Ali fell from second to third, with India’s Jasprit Bumrah taking the lead and New Zealand’s Matt Henry moving to second.
On the field, Pakistan’s former captain Babar Azam had a tough start to the T20 series against South Africa. Facing just two deliveries from Corbin Bosch, Babar was dismissed for zero — marking his eighth duck in T20 Internationals, equalling Shahid Afridi’s record for most ducks by a Pakistani player.
The match turned disastrous for Pakistan overall, as their batting lineup collapsed while chasing, leading to a 55-run defeat.
Read more: Babar Azam matches Shahid Afridi’s unwanted record after another duck
Fans voiced disappointment on social media, criticizing Babar’s performance with both bat and in the field. He dropped a catch and missed a run-out chance, further fueling frustration among supporters.
Cricket analysts say Babar’s form dip is becoming concerning, especially as he wasn’t part of the recent Test series against South Africa. The growing pressure on him to perform could impact his confidence ahead of the next match.
Despite the criticism, experts still believe that Babar remains one of Pakistan’s most skilled batters. His quick return to form will be crucial if Pakistan hopes to recover in the upcoming T20I matches against a strong South African side.
Babar Azam’s recent struggles underline how crucial momentum and confidence are in international cricket. His inconsistency, combined with Rohit Sharma’s rise, highlights the growing gap between Pakistan and India’s batting dominance. Fans now await Babar’s comeback — one strong innings could silence critics and restore belief in Pakistan’s top order.
