Rashid Khan Becomes World No 1 ODI Bowler, Dethrones Maharaj
Afghanistan’s star spinner Rashid Khan has reached a new milestone by becoming the world number 1 ODI bowler. This achievement shows how much cricket has grown in Afghanistan and how talented their players are. At just 27 years old, Rashid Khan has proved that he is one of the best bowlers in the world. His rise to the top of the ICC ODI bowling rankings is not just a personal victory but also a big moment for Afghanistan cricket.
Rashid Khan became the world number 1 ODI bowler after his amazing performance against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi. He took 11 wickets in the three-match series and helped Afghanistan win all three games. This series sweep was very important for Afghanistan cricket. The world number 1 ODI bowler title came to Rashid Khan when he moved up five places in the ICC rankings. He now has 710 rating points, which is 30 more than South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj who was the previous number one.
How Rashid Khan became world number 1 ODI bowler
The path to becoming world number 1 ODI bowler was not easy for Rashid Khan. He had to work very hard and show his skills in many matches. In the series against Bangladesh, Rashid Khan took 11 wickets in three matches. His best performance was in the second ODI where he took five wickets. This five-wicket haul was very important in helping Afghanistan win that match. The world number 1 ODI bowler ranking came after years of hard work and good performances by Rashid Khan.
Rashid Khan’s amazing ODI record
Rashid Khan’s ODI numbers are very impressive. In 117 ODI matches, he has taken 210 wickets at an average of 19.6. This makes him the sixth fastest bowler in cricket history to reach 200 ODI wickets. His economy rate is also very good, which means he does not give away many runs. Rashid Khan has six four-wicket hauls and five five-wicket hauls in ODI cricket. His best bowling figures are seven wickets for 18 runs against the West Indies, which is still remembered as one of the best ODI bowling performances.
Leading wicket-taker in the world
Apart from being the world number 1 ODI bowler, Rashid Khan is also the leading wicket-taker in T20I cricket. He has taken 165 wickets in T20I matches, which is more than any other bowler in this format. His economy rate in T20Is is 6.07, which is very good. This shows that Rashid Khan is not just good in ODI cricket but also in T20I cricket. He became the first Asian bowler to complete 150 T20I wickets and 200 ODI wickets, which is a rare achievement.
Afghanistan’s rise in world cricket
Afghanistan cricket has grown a lot in recent years, and Rashid Khan becoming world number 1 ODI bowler is proof of this growth. The team has been playing better and better in international cricket. Their 3-0 win against Bangladesh was their first whitewash against an Asian team. This victory shows that Afghanistan cricket is getting stronger. With players like Rashid Khan leading the team, Afghanistan has a bright future in cricket.
🚨 RASHID KHAN BECOMES THE NEW NUMBER 1 RANKED ODI BOWLER IN THE WORLD 🚨
– The 🐐 of Afghanistan Cricket. pic.twitter.com/aGmbImbUf8
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 15, 2025
Other Afghanistan players in ICC rankings
Rashid Khan is not the only Afghanistan player doing well in ICC rankings. Ibrahim Zadran, Afghanistan’s opener, jumped eight places to reach the second position in ODI batting rankings. He scored 213 runs in the series against Bangladesh and won the Player of the Series award. Azmatullah Omarzai, the all-rounder, became the number one ODI all-rounder in the world. He took seven wickets in the series and also scored runs with the bat. These achievements show that Afghanistan cricket has many talented players, not just Rashid Khan.
Rashid Khan’s career highlights
Rashid Khan first became world number 1 ODI bowler in September 2018. After that, he held this position again in November 2024. Now, in October 2025, he has returned to the top once more. This shows that Rashid Khan has been consistently good for many years. His career started when he was just 17 years old. Since then, he has played for many teams around the world and has become one of the most famous cricketers from Afghanistan.
Performance against Bangladesh
Rashid Khan’s performance against Bangladesh was amazing. In three ODI matches, he took 11 wickets at an average of 6.09. His economy rate was just 2.73, which means he was very tight with his bowling. Against Bangladesh, Rashid Khan now has 65 wickets in 34 white-ball matches, which is the most by any bowler against Bangladesh in modern cricket. This shows that Rashid Khan knows how to bowl against Bangladesh players and has been very successful against them.
What makes Rashid Khan special
Rashid Khan is special because he can bowl leg-spin very well. Leg-spin is a difficult type of bowling that requires a lot of practice and skill. Rashid Khan can turn the ball both ways and can also bowl googly, which is very hard for batters to read. His ability to take wickets in the middle overs of ODI matches makes him very valuable for his team. He can also bat a bit, which makes him a useful all-rounder. His leadership skills as captain of Afghanistan also help his team perform better.
Test cricket challenges
One area where Afghanistan still needs to grow is Test cricket. Rashid Khan has played only six Test matches and has taken 45 wickets. Afghanistan does not get to play many Test matches, which is limiting the growth of players like Rashid Khan in red-ball cricket. If Afghanistan played more Test matches, Rashid Khan could become even better and show his skills in the longest format of cricket as well.
Current ODI bowling rankings
The current ODI bowling rankings have Rashid Khan at the top with 710 rating points. Keshav Maharaj from South Africa is in second place with 680 rating points. Other top bowlers in the rankings include players from different countries, but Rashid Khan is clearly ahead of everyone else right now. His consistent performances have helped him maintain his position at the top.
Rashid Khan becoming world number 1 ODI bowler is a great achievement for him and for Afghanistan cricket. His hard work, skill, and dedication have paid off. At just 27 years old, he has already achieved so much in cricket. His 210 wickets in 117 ODI matches show how good he is as a bowler. With his leadership and bowling skills, Afghanistan cricket will continue to grow and compete with the best teams in the world. Rashid Khan’s success story will be remembered for many years and will inspire future generations of cricketers.
