Virat Kohli takes ICC ODI rankings by storm, closes in on Rohit Sharma’s No. 1 spot; three Indians break into top five

Virat Kohli’s late-career revival gained significant traction on Wednesday as the former India captain rose to No. 2 in the latest ICC ODI batting rankings, narrowing the gap with teammate Rohit Sharma after a remarkable one-day series against South Africa. Kohli’s move up two places leaves him just eight points behind Rohit; This marks an attempt to reclaim the top spot since it was overtaken by Pakistan’s Babar Azam in April 2021.

The 37-year-old displayed classic form throughout the three-match series and easily won the Player of the Series title by amassing 302 runs. After successive centuries in Ranchi (135) and Guwahati (102), his unbeaten 65 in the Visakhapatnam final not only concluded a flawless campaign but also cemented his place in the top two positions, underlining a resurgence characterized by a string of centuries and impactful innings reminiscent of his peak performance.

Rohit, on the other hand, retained his status as the world’s No. 1 ODI batsman after contributing 146 runs throughout the series. Although Kohli’s brilliance has been overshadowed, the Indian skipper’s consistent performance at the top has allowed him to retain his ranking and ensure India continue to dominate the top two spots in men’s ODI batting; It was a nostalgic return to the days when the duo often dominated global rankings.

Shubman Gill, who was rested throughout the series, has remained steady at No. 5, reflecting the stability at the forefront of India’s ODI squad. KL Rahul’s balanced performance in the stand-in captain role saw him move up two places to 12th, continuing the upward trend that has characterized his last 12 months in white-ball cricket.

On the bowling front, India celebrated subsequent successes. Kuldeep Yadav, one of the most reliable limited-overs bowlers this year, has moved up three places to No. 3 among ODI bowlers. His precision in the middle overs and ability to break partnerships proved crucial against South Africa, cementing his status as one of the world’s leading wrist spinners.

South African players profited significantly from the fiercely contested series. Quinton de Kock moves up three places to 13th, while Aiden Markram moves up to 25th and captain Temba Bavuma moves up to 37th; each received acclaim for their sporadic but effective performances.

There was more positive news for India bowlers in the latest T20I rankings. All-rounder Axar Patel has moved up to 13th among bowlers, Arshdeep Singh has moved up to 20th and Jasprit Bumrah has made a remarkable jump of six places to 25th following India’s dominant 101-run victory against South Africa in the first T20I in Cuttack.

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