- Kohli returns to top of ODI batting rankings after four-year wait
- Daryl Mitchell closes in on No.1 with career-best rating
- Ashes stars propel Australia up the Test charts
India’s modern-day great Virat Kohli has surged back to the No.1 position in the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings, capping a remarkable run of form with a match-winning 93 against New Zealand in the first ODI at Vadodara. The innings powered India to a four-wicket victory and marked Kohli’s return to the summit for the first time since July 2021.
Kohli’s latest knock underlined a golden purple patch that has seen him register scores of 74*, 135, 102, 65* and 93 in his last five ODI innings. At 37, the former India captain appears as prolific as ever, and his latest effort also pushed him past another milestone, moving closer to Sachin Tendulkar while climbing to second place on the all-time men’s international run-scoring list.
This is Kohli’s 11th separate stint as the No.1-ranked ODI batter, taking his total time at the top to 825 days, the most by any Indian batter and the 10th-highest overall in men’s ODI history. Only legends such as Viv Richards, Brian Lara and AB de Villiers have spent longer at the summit.
While Kohli leads the charts, New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell is breathing down his neck, sitting just one rating point behind after a blistering 84 off 71 balls in the same ODI. Mitchell has been a picture of consistency, scoring three half-centuries in his last five matches along with a recent century against West Indies, briefly holding the No.1 spot earlier in the cycle. His teammate Devon Conway also made progress, climbing three places to 29th.
India’s gains were not limited to batting. Mohammed Siraj climbed five places to joint 15th in the ODI bowlers’ rankings following a strong showing, while New Zealand fast bowler Kyle Jamieson leapt an astonishing 27 spots to joint 69th after producing career-best figures against India.
The Ashes series also left a significant imprint on the Test rankings, with Australian players making major strides. Travis Head was the standout mover, rising seven places to third after topping the run charts with 629 runs at an average of 62.90, including three centuries. England’s Jacob Bethell surged 25 spots to joint 52nd following his maiden Test hundred, while Michael Neser climbed to 47th after an impressive Sydney Test.
Australia’s all-round strength was further reflected in Beau Webster’s rise across all three categories, highlighted by gains of 22 places in the all-rounder rankings to reach 26th. His performance epitomised Australia’s dominance in the series.
Accordingly, Wanindu Hasaranga moved up to second in the T20I bowler rankings after a series-levelling performance against Pakistan, while Pakistan pacer Salman Mirza jumped 16 spots following a three-wicket haul against Sri Lanka. In the all-rounders’ standings, Sikandar Raza reclaimed the No.1 position after Saim Ayub slipped a place.
With rankings shifting across formats, the latest ICC update reflects a changing global landscape, but at the top, one constant has returned. Virat Kohli is back where he has so often belonged: No.1 in the world.
