Sydney, October 29, 2025 – In a plot twist worthy of Bollywood’s grandest finale, Rohit Sharma – the Mumbai maestro long dubbed “Hitman” for his boundary-bullying prowess – has scripted his most audacious heist yet. At an age when most cricketers are polishing their coaching badges, the 38-year-old Indian opener has stormed to the No. 1 spot in the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings, dethroning his own protégé Shubman Gill in a rankings reshuffle that feels like a generational handover gone gloriously awry.
Picture this: Under the golden glow of Sydney Cricket Ground’s floodlights just four days ago, Rohit unfurled an unbeaten 142 – his 33rd ODI ton, laced with 13 fours and three skyscraping sixes – to anchor India’s nine-wicket demolition of Australia in the series decider. It wasn’t just a consolation prize after a 2-1 series loss; it was a career-defining statement. With 781 rating points now etched beside his name, Rohit vaults past Afghanistan’s explosive Ibrahim Zadran (764 points) into second, while Gill tumbles to third on 745. It’s Rohit’s first taste of the summit in a 18-year international odyssey, and oh, what a vintage it is.
What makes this ascent so intoxicating? Age. At 38 years and 147 days, Rohit eclipses the previous record held by… well, himself? No – he’s now the oldest-ever to perch atop the ODI batting tree, eclipsing South Africa’s Graeme Pollock’s 35-year-old mark from 1970. “Records are meant to be broken, but this one’s got a silver lining – it means I’m still swinging,” Rohit quipped post-match, his trademark grin masking the quiet fire that fueled a Player of the Series haul of 202 runs at an average north of 100.
This isn’t mere nostalgia fodder. Rohit’s renaissance arrives amid whispers of twilight in his whites – retirement rumors that have swirled since India’s heart-wrenching 2023 World Cup final loss. Yet, here he is, joining an exalted Indian pantheon: Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and now Gill (briefly). Kohli, his eternal opening ally, clawed back with an unbeaten 74 in the same Sydney saga, nudging up to sixth on 725 points after twin ducks threatened to tarnish his tour. Shreyas Iyer, the middle-order magician, sneaks into ninth despite a rain-curtailed outing, his Adelaide 61 proving pivotal.
A Legacy Reloaded
Rohit’s not just rewriting rankings; he’s redefining resilience. This tour marked his first competitive outing since the March 2025 Champions Trophy final – a seven-month cricket drought that tested the duo’s reflexes. Yet, in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) cauldrons where Indians have historically wilted, Rohit notched his 14th visiting ODI century, the most ever by an overseas batter. It’s a nod to evolution: the freewheeling ’10s aggressor now blends calculated carnage with captain’s calm, even sans the baggy green of leadership (he’s stepped down as Test skipper, remember?).
Fan frenzy? Electric. Social scrolls lit up with memes of Rohit as a “timeless thriller” – one viral edit superimposes his sixes over retirement headlines. Experts chime in: “This isn’t a swansong; it’s a sequel,” says former coach Ravi Shastri, hinting at Rohit’s blueprint for the 2027 World Cup.
As India gears up for a home ODI tri-series against South Africa and England next month, the Hitman’s perch adds intrigue. Will he defend it with more fireworks, or pass the torch? One thing’s certain: At 38, Rohit Sharma isn’t fading – he’s firing on all cylinders, proving that in cricket’s grand theatre, the best acts save the encore for last.