Virat Kohli Returns to No.1 ODI Batting Spot

ISLAMABAD: (Web Desk) – Virat Kohli has stormed back to the top of the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings for the first time since July 2021, reclaiming the No.1 spot from teammate Rohit Sharma following a match-winning 93 off 91 balls against New Zealand in Vadodara. This marks the 11th time in his illustrious career that Kohli has held the top position, bolstered by recent scores of 135, 102, and 65* against South Africa, and a fluent 74* against Australia in Sydney.

Kohli first reached the summit of the ODI rankings in October 2013 and has now spent a total of 825 days at No.1—the most by any Indian batter. He ranks 10th on the all-time list, led by West Indies legend Vivian Richards, who held the position for 2,306 days.

The competition at the top is intensifying, with New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell also overtaking Sharma after scoring 84, leaving just 10 points separating the top three ODI batters. Among other changes, K.L. Rahul (up to 11th) and Devon Conway (up to 29th) have advanced, while fast bowlers Mohammad Siraj (up to 15th) and Kyle Jamieson (up 27 places to 69th) have made notable progress.

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In Test cricket, Travis Head and Steve Smith moved up to third and fourth positions after first-innings centuries in the final Ashes Test, which Australia won to seal a 4-1 series victory. England’s Joe Root consolidated his spot as the top-ranked Test batter, while Harry Brook remains second. Jacob Bethell jumped 25 places to 52nd following a knock of 154.

On the bowling side, Mitchell Starc’s 31 wickets in the Ashes propelled him from ninth to third in the Test rankings, and his batting performances have moved him into the top five all-rounders. Scott Boland retained seventh place, while Michael Naser entered the top 50 for the first time, and England seamer Josh Tongue climbed nine places to a career-best 21st.

In T20Is, Sri Lanka spinner Wanindu Hasaranga rose to second after five wickets against Pakistan in a 1-1 series. Pakistan batters Sahibzada Farhan (up to fifth) and Salman Agha (up to 41st) and left-arm seamer Salman Mirza (up to 19th) also made significant gains in the rankings.