Virat Kohli’s remarkable resurgence in ODI cricket has taken another leap forward, with the India great climbing to No.2 in the latest ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings. Kohli, who smashed 302 runs in the recently concluded ODI series against South Africa, is now just eight rating points behind top-ranked Rohit Sharma.
The 37-year-old was named Player of the Series after scores of 117*, 120 and 65*, and his consistency has put him within striking distance of reclaiming the No.1 position he last held in April 2021.
Rohit, who contributed 146 runs across the three matches, remains firmly at the top, setting up an intriguing battle for supremacy when India host New Zealand for a three-match ODI series starting 11 January.
Kohli wasn’t the only Indian to surge up the charts. KL Rahul jumped two spots to 12th among ODI batters, while left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav made one of the biggest moves this week—rising three places to a career-high No.3 on the ODI Bowling Rankings.
South Africa’s batters also received rewards despite losing the series 2–1, with Quinton de Kock (13th), Aiden Markram (25th) and Temba Bavuma (37th) all making upward progress.
There was movement in the T20I rankings as well following India’s emphatic 101-run win over South Africa in Cuttack. Rising Proteas star Dewald Brevis broke into the top 10 for T20I batters, climbing to No.8. Among bowlers, India’s Axar Patel (13th), Arshdeep Singh (20th) and Jasprit Bumrah (25th) all made healthy gains after impressive spells in the opening game.
In Test cricket, Australia’s Mitchell Starc emerged as the biggest mover. The left-arm quick surged three places to a career-best No.3 in the ICC Test Bowling Rankings after back-to-back Player of the Match performances in the first two Ashes Tests, where he picked up 18 wickets.
The Test batting charts also shifted, with England’s Harry Brook dropping to fourth after a lean run in Australia. Kane Williamson and Steve Smith moved up to second and third respectively, while Joe Root continues to hold the No.1 slot.
New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra was another notable gainer, climbing nine places to 15th after a gritty performance in the drawn Test against the West Indies in Christchurch. Teammate Tom Latham moved up to 34th following his second-innings century. West Indies batters Shai Hope (48th) and Justin Greaves (60th) also made significant strides, while pacer Kemar Roach rose five spots after a seven-wicket match haul at Hagley Oval.
With several bilateral series lined up across formats, further changes are expected as the race for top honours intensifies in all three formats.
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