Virat Kohli has surged up the ICC ODI Rankings after his brilliant match-winning 135 against South Africa in Ranchi, overtaking Shubman Gill to move into fourth place. The latest rankings, released on Wednesday, reflect Kohli’s growing influence in the format once again, even as Rohit Sharma continues to occupy the No.1 spot with an extended lead over New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell.
Kohli’s 120-ball century, his 52nd in ODIs and first since February, played a decisive role in India’s 17-run victory. His knock, filled with control and authority, also featured a crucial 136-run partnership with Rohit Sharma, who contributed a steady 57. Their efforts powered India to a total of 350, which proved just enough despite a late fightback from the Proteas. The innings added another chapter to Kohli’s extraordinary record in Ranchi, marking his third century at the venue.
With this performance, Kohli now sits at 751 rating points—just 32 behind Rohit, bringing him within striking distance of returning to the top ranking. Kohli previously held the No.1 position for more than three years before being overtaken by Pakistan’s Babar Azam in April 2021. With India still in the middle of their ODI series against South Africa, the door is wide open for him to close the gap further or potentially reclaim the top spot altogether.
Meanwhile, Shubman Gill, recovering from a neck injury sustained during the Kolkata Test, slipped to fifth due to inactivity. The young opener was ruled out of the ODI series, giving Kohli the opportunity to leapfrog him.
Among bowlers, Kuldeep Yadav enjoyed a significant rise after his four-wicket performance in Ranchi. His spell halted a fierce South African counterattack and propelled him to sixth in the ODI bowling rankings with 641 rating points, overtaking Mitchell Santner to become India’s highest-ranked bowler in the format.
In the T20I landscape, Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakravarthy continue to dominate their respective charts. Abhishek stands strong with 920 rating points, maintaining a healthy lead over Phil Salt, while Chakravarthy remains one of the top-ranked bowlers with 780 points.
Kohli’s return to peak form and his renewed climb up the rankings have set the stage for an exciting battle for the ODI crown, with Rohit still in front but his longtime teammate closing in rapidly.
