ICC Rankings: 'Age just a number' — 39-year-old Sikandar Raza No.1 ODI all-rounder; 35-year-old Keshav Maharaj No.1 ODI bowler

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Sep 03, 2025, 14:54 IST

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

Sikandar Raza, at 39, has achieved the number one all-rounder ranking in ICC Men’s ODI, driven by consistent performances with both bat and ball during the series against Sri Lanka. Despite Zimbabwe's series loss, Raza's individual brilliance stood out, highlighted by back-to-back half-centuries and impactful bowling.

ICC Rankings: 'Age just a number' — 39-year-old Sikandar Raza No.1 ODI all-rounder; 35-year-old Keshav Maharaj No.1 ODI bowler

Sikandar Raza and Keshav Maharaj

Zimbabwe's veteran star Sikandar Raza has etched his name in history, climbing to the No.1 spot in the ICC Men’s ODI all-rounder rankings at the age of 39. Despite Zimbabwe falling short in their ODI series against Sri Lanka in Harare, Raza’s consistent brilliance with both bat and ball propelled him past Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai to claim the top ranking.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Raza registered back-to-back half-centuries in the series, along with figures of 1/48 in the opening game, underlining his impact in all facets. His efforts saw him reach 302 rating points, moving ahead of Nabi (292) and Omarzai (296). His batting form also earned him a jump of nine places to 22nd in the ODI Batting Rankings.While Zimbabwe couldn’t secure a victory, Raza’s rise was the standout storyline. His feat is particularly inspiring given his age, proving that experience and determination can still dominate at the highest level.

Poll

Should age be a factor in assessing a player's performance?

Yes, experience matters.No, performance is what counts.

Elsewhere, Sri Lanka’s series win was marked by impressive leaps in the rankings. Pathum Nissanka’s scores of 122 and 76 pushed him up seven spots to 13th among ODI batters, while Janith Liyanage surged 13 places to 29th. On the bowling charts, pacers Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka climbed to 31st and 52nd respectively.

South Africa’s emphatic win over England in Leeds also sparked movement. Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj consolidated his hold at the top of the ODI Bowling Rankings with 690 points, while Lungi Ngidi rose to equal 23rd. England pacer Jofra Archer, despite the defeat, broke into the top 20, sitting 19th with 571 points.In T20Is, Mohammad Nabi gained ground, moving up to second among all-rounders behind India’s Hardik Pandya. Ibrahim Zadran’s fine knocks pushed him into the top 20 T20 batters, while Pakistan’s Sufiyan Muqeem entered the top 25 bowlers.

Catch Lovlina Borgohain's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 5. Watch Here

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

End of Article