New Delhi: Star India batter Virat Kohli has stormed back to the summit of the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings, reclaiming the No. 1 spot for the first time since July 2021 after a dominant run of form that culminated in a match-winning performance against New Zealand.
The 37-year-old’s unbeaten streak of seven consecutive 50-plus scores propelled him to the top with 785 rating points, narrowly edging out New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell, who achieved a career-best second place with 784 points. Long-time teammate Rohit Sharma slipped to third with 775 points following a modest outing in the series opener.
This is the 11th time Kohli has held the No. 1 ODI batting position since first reaching it in October 2013. He has now spent a total of 825 days at the summit — the most by any Indian batter and placing him 10th on the all-time list led by Viv Richards with 2,306 days.
Kohli resurgence was highlighted by his crucial 93 off 91 balls (including eight fours and one six) in India’s tense four-wicket chase of 301 in the first ODI against New Zealand in Vadodara on January 11. Partnering with captain Shubman Gill (56), Kohli anchored the innings with a 118-run stand for the second wicket, helping India secure a 1-0 lead in the three-match series despite a late collapse. This knock also saw Kohli surpass Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-scorer in men’s international cricket (behind Sachin Tendulkar) and the fastest to 28,000 international runs. His recent ODI scores — 74* (vs Australia), 135, 102, 65* (vs South Africa), and 93 (vs New Zealand) — total 469 runs at an exceptional average, underscore his renewed hunger and consistency in the 50-over format at age 37.
India now boasts four batters inside the top 11 of the ODI rankings, highlighting the team’s depth in the format.
