Indian cricket star Virat Kohli’s quest to reclaim the top spot in the ICC ODI Player Rankings has gained momentum following his outstanding performance in the recent ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Kohli’s tournament-best 765 runs propelled him to the third position in the latest rankings, just 35 rating points behind teammate Shubman Gill.
Gill maintains a slim lead at the top of the batter rankings with 826 rating points, while Pakistan skipper Babar Azam (824) holds the second position. Kohli (791) and India skipper Rohit Sharma (769) are now in close contention for the top spots after their strong World Cup performances.
Kohli, who previously held the No.1 ranking for 1258 consecutive days between 2017 and 2021, is aiming to regain the pinnacle from Gill, who claimed the top position during the World Cup.
As a result of the Indian duo’s rise, South Africa opener Quinton de Kock slips to fifth place, while New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell climbs to sixth after his impressive 552 runs at the World Cup.
A notable development in the updated ODI batter rankings is Australia opener Travis Head’s significant jump of 28 places to 15th overall, following his outstanding century and Player of the Match performance in the World Cup final.