India’s formidable batting quartet – Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma – have experienced a significant slide in the latest ICC ODI batting rankings. All four have shed double-digit points, a direct consequence of their underwhelming performance in the first ODI against Australia in Perth.
The series opener at Optus Stadium was plagued by rain, forcing a reduction to 26 overs per side. Opting to bowl, Australia witnessed a top-order collapse from the Indian side. Shubman Gill was dismissed early, and Virat Kohli recorded a rare duck on Australian soil. The team struggled to post a respectable total, ending their innings at 136/9. Australia then comfortably chased the target, achieving victory with seven wickets in hand.
These points deductions are substantial: Gill lost 16, Iyer 13, Kohli 12, and Sharma 11. This drop emphasizes the critical nature of form in the rankings and how major encounters can amplify poor performances. The pressure is now on India’s batting stalwarts to regroup and deliver stronger performances in the remaining ODIs to mitigate further ranking damage and salvage the series.