The latest ICC rankings have brought renewed excitement to Indian cricket fans. Virat Kohli has climbed two places to reach number 2 in the ODI batting rankings. He is now just eight points behind Rohit Sharma, who currently holds the top spot. The upcoming series against New Zealand is set to witness a fierce battle between Rohit and Kohli.
ICC Rankings Update: Kohli’s resurgence sparks ranking battle
Kohli’s rise comes after a stellar ODI series against South Africa. The former captain scored 302 runs in the three matches, the most by any player in the series. His unbeaten 65-run knock in the final match in Visakhapatnam helped India secure the victory and earned him the Player of the Series award.
This performance has brought Kohli very close to reclaiming the number 1 ODI batsman spot, a position he hasn’t held since April 2021.
Rohit still ahead, but by a narrow margin
Rohit Sharma remains at the top with 781 rating points, while Virat Kohli is right behind him with 773 points. The Indian captain scored 146 runs in the three-match series. Although he didn’t match Kohli’s run tally, Rohit’s recent consistency keeps him ahead at least for now.
The upcoming matches against New Zealand will determine whether Rohit can maintain his lead or if Kohli will overtake him.
Other significant ranking changes
- The ranking update also saw changes for other players:
- Shreyas Iyer slipped to 10th position.
- Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran and New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell each dropped one place.
- Kuldeep Yadav moved up to third place among ODI bowlers thanks to his excellent form.
- Jasprit Bumrah climbed six places after his impressive performance in the T20I in Cuttack. In Test cricket, Mitchell Starc moved up to third place after a brilliant start to the Ashes, while several players from West Indies and New Zealand also gained points.
What’s next?
The next three-match ODI series between India vs New Zealand will begin on January 11th. Both Rohit and Virat Kohli are expected to play crucial roles, and their direct competition for the top ranking will be the biggest talking point.
For the fans, the RO-KO rivalry is back, and the battle for the number one spot is heating up.
Also Read – The most educated cricketer in India- Top 12 Indian Players List
🌟 Raining threes? Always. Head to Football Bros — spark up basketball stars io and cook defenders with football bros unblocked games.