ICC Rankings: Virat Kohli vs Rohit Sharma Race for No.1 ODI Batter Intensifies

India's cricket fans have another reason to cheer as the latest ICC rankings bring exciting movement for top players, with Virat Kohli making a major push toward the No.1 ODI batter spot. The ICC rankings update shows Kohli climbing to second place, just behind Rohit Sharma , adding a fresh twist to India's dominance in world cricket and boosting the anticipation around upcoming matches.

Virat Kohli, who has been chasing the top spot since losing it to Babar Azam in April 2021, made a strong comeback in the ICC rankings thanks to his outstanding performance against South Africa. The right-hander was declared Player of the Series after scoring 302 runs across three ODIs, including an unbeaten 65 in Visakhapatnam. This impressive run in the ICC rankings now puts him only eight rating points behind Rohit Sharma, who scored 146 runs in the same series.

Men's ODI Batting Rankings

With India now preparing to host New Zealand for a three-match ODI series starting January 11, the ICC rankings race between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli is set to intensify. Fans will be eagerly watching to see whether Kohli can reclaim the No.1 spot or whether Rohit will strengthen his hold on the top of the ICC rankings.

Several other Indian players also benefitted from the latest ICC rankings. KL Rahul jumped two spots to 12th among ODI batters, while Kuldeep Yadav climbed three places to reach third in the ODI bowling rankings. The ICC rankings update also brought good news for South African players, with Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, and Temba Bavuma moving upward despite South Africa losing the series 2-1.

In the T20I ICC rankings, Indian players continued their rise. Axar Patel (13th), Arshdeep Singh (20th), and Jasprit Bumrah (25th) climbed up following India's 101-run win over South Africa in Cuttack. South African youngster Dewald Brevis made headlines by breaking into the T20I top 10 for batters, bringing more excitement to the ICC rankings conversation.

Test cricket saw major updates in the ICC rankings as well. Mitchell Starc surged to a career-best third position in the bowling charts after taking 18 wickets in the first two Ashes Tests. New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra and Tom Latham also rose in the ICC rankings, while West Indies players Shai Hope and Justin Greaves made noteworthy gains across formats.

With Virat Kohli inching closer to the No.1 ODI spot and multiple Indian stars climbing across formats, the latest ICC rankings highlight India's strength and depth. These ICC rankings set the stage for intense individual battles and thrilling cricketing action in the coming months.