DUBAI / RANCHI – Star Indian batter Virat Kohli has made a significant leap in the latest ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings, moving up one spot to No. 4 following his magnificent century in the ongoing series against South Africa. The move sees Kohli edge closer to reclaiming the top position he last held in April 2021.

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

The Century That Sparked the Surge

The dramatic rise is a direct result of Kohli’s match-winning performance in the first One Day International against South Africa in Ranchi on November 30. The 37-year-old maestro scored a sublime 135 runs off 120 deliveries, marking his 52nd ODI century and the 83rd international century of his illustrious career.

This stellar knock propelled India to a 17-run victory and rewarded Kohli with enough rating points to jump over his teammate, the reigning Test and ODI Captain, Shubman Gill, who now sits at No. 5.

Chasing the Apex

Kohli’s current form puts him squarely in the race for the No. 1 ranking. With 751 rating points, he is now just 32 points behind the current table-topper, his compatriot Rohit Sharma (783 points).

The current top five of the ICC ODI Batting Rankings are:

1. 🇮🇳 Rohit Sharma (783 points)

2. 🇳🇿 Daryl Mitchell (766 points)

3. 🇦🇫 Ibrahim Zadran (764 points)

4. 🇮🇳 Virat Kohli (751 points)

5. 🇮🇳 Shubman Gill (738 points)

Kohli’s sustained excellence has reignited the high-stakes battle for the ODI batting crown, a position he dominated for over three years before being displaced by Pakistan’s Babar Azam in 2021. With the India-South Africa ODI series still underway, the possibility of Kohli reclaiming the No. 1 spot is a compelling narrative for cricket fans worldwide.

Other Notable Gains for India

The latest rankings update brought further good news for the Indian camp, particularly in the bowling department:

• Kuldeep Yadav gained one spot, moving up to No. 6 in the ODI Bowlers Rankings after his impactful four-wicket haul in the series opener.

• KL Rahul, who batted at No. 6, also made a gain, climbing two places to a joint 14th position among ODI batters after a quickfire 60 runs off 55 balls.

The current series continues to be pivotal, with further movements in the rankings expected as players strive to maintain consistency ahead of the next major international tournament cycle.