India’s modern batting maestro Virat Kohli has received a delightful piece of news from the International Cricket Council (ICC) following a scintillating run of form. Having struck two magnificent centuries in the recently concluded ODI series against South Africa, Kohli’s resurgence has now been formally recognised in the latest ICC rankings update.
Kohli has climbed two places to reclaim the No. 2 position in the Men’s ODI Batting Rankings, signalling his renewed charge towards the top spot—a place he last held in April 2021. It was then that Pakistan’s Babar Azam dethroned him, starting a prolonged reign. However, Kohli’s exceptional display across the three-match series, where he amassed 302 runs and deservedly claimed the Player of the Series award, has thrust him firmly back into contention for the crown.
In the decisive third ODI, Kohli produced a composed, unbeaten 65, further narrowing the gap between himself and his long-time teammate Rohit Sharma, who remains the No. 1 ranked ODI batter. Rohit’s tally of 146 runs in the same series has kept him marginally ahead—Kohli now trails by just eight rating points, setting the stage for an intriguing duel.
India’s next ODI assignment begins on 11 January, when they host New Zealand. With both Rohit and Kohli entering the series in excellent touch, cricket enthusiasts around the world will be eager to witness which of the two stalwarts emerges as the world’s top-ranked ODI batter.
Key ODI Ranking Movements
| Player | Country | Change | New Rank | Format |
| Rohit Sharma | India | — | 1 | ODI Batting |
| Virat Kohli | India | +2 | 2 | ODI Batting |
| KL Rahul | India | +2 | 12 | ODI Batting |
| Kuldeep Yadav | India | +3 | 3 | ODI Bowling |
| Quinton de Kock | South Africa | +3 | 13 | ODI Batting |
| Aiden Markram | South Africa | +4 | 25 | ODI Batting |
| Temba Bavuma | South Africa | +3 | 37 | ODI Batting |
T20I Rankings See Youthful Spark
The T20I rankings have also undergone notable shifts. South Africa’s rising sensation Dewald Brevis has stormed into the top ten, climbing three places to reach No. 8. Among Indian players, Axar Patel (now 13th), Arshdeep Singh (20th), and Jasprit Bumrah (25th) have all made encouraging progress.
Starc’s Career High as Test Rankings Shuffle
In Test cricket, Australian left-arm quick Mitchell Starc has reached a career-best third position among bowlers after producing back-to-back match-winning performances, claiming 18 wickets across two Tests. Conversely, England’s batting struggles have seen Harry Brook slip two places to fourth, overtaken by Kane Williamson and Steve Smith. Joe Root continues to hold the No. 1 position.
Following the drawn Test between New Zealand and West Indies in Christchurch, several players made significant gains: Rachin Ravindra jumped nine places to 15th, Tom Latham rose to 34th, while the West Indian pair Shai Hope and Justin Greaves climbed 19 and 16 spots respectively. Veteran seamer Kemar Roach also moved up five positions among Test bowlers.