Indian batsmen who achieved the No. 1 ODI ranking in the fewest innings
Indian batsmen who achieved the No. 1 ODI ranking in the fewest innings: Recently, former Indian captain Rohit Sharma achieved a major milestone by becoming the No. 1 batsman in the ICC ODI rankings. Reaching the top spot for the first time after his 268th match, Rohit added another milestone to his illustrious and long career. He achieved this feat following his impressive performance in the ODI series against Australia, demonstrating his incredible consistency.
Dhoni’s unmatched record: Reached the top spot in just 38 innings

However, when it comes to the fastest Indian batsman to reach the No. 1 spot in the ICC ODI rankings, the record still stands with former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. ‘Captain Cool’ reached this pinnacle in just 38 innings.
Dhoni’s record is unmatched not only in India but also in the history of world cricket, as he became the fastest batsman in the world to achieve this feat and this record still stands.
Dhoni’s dominance and records in ODIs

Mahendra Singh Dhoni achieved this feat in 2006 when he surpassed Australian legend Ricky Ponting to achieve the No. 1 ranking for the first time. At the time, he was only the second Indian batsman to achieve this position after Sachin Tendulkar.
- No. 1 again: Dhoni’s success story didn’t stop there; he achieved the No. 1 spot twice, in 2008 and 2010, during the best years of his international career.
- Career statistics: In his entire ODI career, Dhoni scored 10,773 runs in 350 matches at an impressive average of over 50, including 10 centuries.
Shubman Gill gave a tough fight but missed out

This record was recently surpassed by Punjab’s young Shubman Gill. Gill displayed remarkable consistency, becoming the world’s No. 1 ODI batsman in just 41 innings, but he fell short of breaking Dhoni’s record of 38 innings. Gill, with his class and technique, has proven he’s a long-term player in this format.
Journeys of other legends
If we talk about Indian legends, Sachin Tendulkar, known as the ‘God of Cricket’, took 102 innings to reach this coveted position. Virat Kohli, considered his successor and a record-breaker in ODI cricket, took 112 innings to reach No. 1.
With these figures, Rohit Sharma’s achievement of 268 innings tells a different story, demonstrating the level of consistency he has shown in the latter stages of his career.
Fastest Indian batsman to reach No. 1 in ICC ODI rankings
List of Indian batsmen who reached the No. 1 spot fastest:
| Indian batsman | Innings taken to reach No. 1 |
|---|---|
| Mahendra Singh Dhoni | 38 innings |
| Shubman Gill | 41 innings |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 102 innings |
| Virat Kohli | 112 innings |
| Rohit Sharma | 268 innings |
Dhoni’s record is a glorious chapter in the history of Indian cricket, showing how an explosive and young player can make a mark on the global stage.
Also Read: Is Arshdeep Singh’s World Cup 2026 Spot in Danger?
