Post by : Badri Ariffin

Virat Kohli has reclaimed his position at the apex of the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings, marking his return after more than three years. Following an exceptional performance in one-day cricket, he regains the No.1 spot for the first time since July 2021, thanks to his impressive innings against New Zealand.

In the first match of the three-match ODI series in Vadodara on Sunday, Kohli delivered a stellar performance with a score of 93 from 91 balls. His innings was pivotal in leading India to victory and enabled him to overtake fellow teammate Rohit Sharma.

This milestone marks the 11th occasion in Kohli’s remarkable career that he has claimed the No. 1 spot in the ICC ODI batting rankings. He initially reached this peak in October 2013, accumulating a total of 825 days at the top—more than any other Indian player. The all-time record is held by West Indies icon Viv Richards, who spent 2,306 days at No.1.

Kohli’s resurgence follows an impressive comeback in ODI cricket. After enduring two consecutive ducks against Australia last October, he rebounded with a fluent 74 in Sydney. Upon returning to home grounds, he continued to excel with scores of 135, 102, and an unbeaten 65 in the ODI series against South Africa.

Despite his new ranking, Kohli faces strong competition for the top position. New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell is only a rating point behind him after his score of 84 in the series opener, pushing Rohit Sharma to third place, who lags by 10 points.

In other updates within the ODI rankings, K.L. Rahul has moved up to 11th place, while Devon Conway has advanced three spots to 29th among batters. In the bowling category, Mohammed Siraj improved by five places to rank 15th, and Kyle Jamieson made a significant leap of 27 spots to 69th.

As for the ICC Men’s Test rankings, Australia’s Travis Head and Steve Smith have ascended to third and fourth positions respectively after their centuries in the final Ashes Test in Sydney. England's Joe Root remains the top-ranked Test batter, with Harry Brook in second place. Among bowlers, Mitchell Starc has climbed from ninth to third following his impactful performances in the Ashes series.

#Global News #Sports News