Dhoni has hit eight half-centuries in 42 one-day internationals

Dhoni's 59 in Wednesday's victory over Pakistan in Abu Dhabi took him past Aussie captain Ricky Ponting.

The 24 year-old only made his ODI debut in December 2004 but averages 52.76 with two hundreds and eight fifties.

Dhoni is one of three India batsmen in the top 10, while England's top-ranked batsman is Kevin Pietersen in seventh.

India win to tie Pakistan series

India's Irfan Pathan moved up one spot to third in the bowler rankings with only Shaun Pollock of South Africa and Australia's Glenn McGrath ahead of him.

But Pathan remains in third position in the all-rounders's list behind Pollock and England's Andrew Flintoff.

LG ICC Rankings - Batsmen
Rank Change Player Team Points Average
1 (+1) Mahendra Dhoni Ind 806* 52.76
2 (-1) Ricky Ponting Aus 805 42.74
3 ( - ) Adam Gilchrist Aus 793 36.27
4 ( - ) Andrew Symonds Aus 761 38.64
5 ( - ) Graeme Smith SA 759 39.87
6 ( - ) Mike Hussey Aus 748* 78.71
7 ( - ) Kevin Pietersen Eng 745* 65.50
8 ( - ) K.C.Sangakkara SL 736 35.41
9 (+2) Rahul Dravid Ind 729 40.42
10 (-1) Yuvraj Singh Ind 722 34.90

LG ICC Rankings - Bowlers
Rank Change Player Team Points Avge
1 ( - ) Shaun Pollock SA 858 24.29
2 ( - ) Glenn McGrath Aus 768 22.43
3 (+1) Irfan Pathan Ind 765 24.23
4 (-1) Shane Bond NZ 762 18.63
5 ( - ) Daniel Vettori NZ 750 33.58
6 ( - ) Brett Lee Aus 729 22.96
7 (+1) M.Muralidaran SL 701 23.16
8= (+1) Nathan Bracken Aus 693* 21.81
(+1) Chaminda Vaas SL 693 26.96
10 (-3) Harbhajan Singh Ind 690 30.54