By Zainab Shafiq 
Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai has emerged as the world’s number one allrounder in ODI cricket, surpassing his compatriot Mohammad Nabi after a stellar performance in the Champions Trophy 2025.
Despite Afghanistan falling short of the semi-finals, Omarzai’s brilliance stood out. His impactful contributions with both bat and ball propelled him to the No. 1 spot, making him the first Afghan player in recent years to claim the top allrounder ranking.
Recent Performances of New World’s Number One Allrounder in ODI
Omarzai’s rise in the rankings comes on the back of a dominant showing in the Champions Trophy. The 24-year-old allrounder claimed seven wickets in just three matches, including a remarkable 5 for 58 against England, a spell that played a pivotal role in Afghanistan’s victory. With the bat, he accumulated 126 runs at an impressive strike rate of 104.13, ensuring stability in Afghanistan’s middle order.
His consistency with both bat and ball saw him leapfrog two places to claim the No. 1 allrounder ranking, edging ahead of Nabi by four points. Additionally, he surged 12 places in the ODI batting rankings to now sit at 24th.
Kohli, Gill, and Zadran on the Rise
Elsewhere, India’s Virat Kohli climbed to the fourth spot in the ODI batting rankings following his crucial match-winning performances in the semi-finals and the group stage. His unbeaten century against Pakistan and 84-run knock against Australia reinforced his stature as one of the most reliable batters in pressure situations.
Meanwhile, Shubman Gill remains the No. 1 ranked ODI batter, with Pakistan’s Babar Azam holding second place. Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran was among the biggest gainers, skyrocketing 13 spots to break into the top ten after his commanding 177-run knock against England.
Movements in Bowling Rankings
New Zealand’s Matt Henry has climbed to third in the bowling rankings, following a string of consistent performances. He now trails only Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana and South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj. India’s Mohammed Shami, making his return from injury, gained three places to 11th, further strengthening India’s bowling attack ahead of the final stages of the tournament.
With the Champions Trophy nearing its conclusion, several players have made significant strides in the rankings, setting the stage for an exciting period in ODI cricket.
Also, see:
WPL 2025 Complete Schedule and Squads