The king is back on his throne. Virat Kohli has officially overtaken Rohit Sharma to become the top-ranked ODI batter in the world following a signature match-winning performance against New Zealand in Vadodara.
Chasing a target of 301, Kohli’s clinical 93 off 91 balls didn’t just secure a win for India—it propelled him to the summit of the ICC rankings for the 11th time in his career. This latest update cements his legacy as India’s most dominant force in the format, marking a total of 825 days spent at No. 1, the highest for any Indian batter in history. While he still trails Viv Richards’ record of 2,306 days, Kohli’s current form suggests he is far from finished.
Kohli’s rise is no fluke; it is the result of a staggering run of consistency. In his last five ODI outings, his scores read: 74, 135, 102, 65, and 93**. Having retired from other international formats, Kohli is clearly channeling all his focus into the 50-over game, and the results are terrifying for opposition bowlers.
A Shake-up in the Top 3 and New Zealand’s Rise
While Kohli celebrates, the rankings have been less kind to Rohit Sharma. After a modest outing of 26 in the series opener, the Indian captain didn’t just lose the top spot—he tumbled down to No. 3. Taking advantage of the shift is New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell, whose valiant 84 in Vadodara pushed him up to a career-high No. 2.
The gap at the top is now razor-thin. Kohli leads with 785 points, Mitchell follows closely at 784, and Rohit sits at 775. With two matches remaining in the series, the No. 1 spot could realistically change hands again before the week is out. Further down the list, KL Rahul’s quickfire cameo moved him up to 11th, putting him on the verge of breaking into the top ten.
Starc and Head Surge Following Ashes Triumph
The conclusion of the Ashes has caused a massive reshuffle in the ICC Test rankings. Travis Head, the series’ leading run-scorer with 629 runs, has climbed to No. 3 in the world. He is joined in the top four by Steven Smith, whose century at the SCG reminded everyone why he remains a modern great. Despite Australia’s individual gains, England’s Joe Root and Harry Brook continue to hold the top two spots in the batting department.
The bowling department saw an even more dramatic shift. Mitchell Starc, named Player of the Series for his 31-wicket haul, jumped six places to land at No. 3. His pace partner Scott Boland maintained his consistency, holding onto the No. 7 spot after a 20-wicket series. Meanwhile, young England sensation Jacob Bethell made the biggest leap of the update, soaring 25 places to 52nd after his breakout 154 at the SCG.
In the T20I circuit, Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga continues to haunt batters, moving up to second in the bowling rankings after a dominant series against Pakistan. On the batting side, Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan climbed to fifth, proving that the shortest format is seeing a new generation of stars find their footing.
