Virat Kohli reclaims World No. 1 ODI batter after 4 years, dethrones Rohit Sharma

Virat Kohli has returned to the top of the ICC Men’s ODI batting rankings for the first time since 2021, marking a major milestone in his resurgence in the 50-over format. The latest rankings update confirmed Kohli’s rise to No. 1 following his consistent performances in recent international matches.

Kohli overtook teammate Rohit Sharma to reclaim the top position, gaining 12 rating points to reach 785. Rohit slipped to third place with 775 points, while New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell surged to second with a career-best 784, just one point behind Kohli.

The Indian batter’s climb was aided by a match-winning knock of 93 against New Zealand in the first ODI, along with a strong run of scores in preceding series. Kohli has crossed fifty in each of his last five innings, amassing 469 runs with two centuries and three half-centuries.

After dominating the ODI rankings for four consecutive years from 2017, Kohli had lost the top spot in 2021, with Babar Azam and later Rohit Sharma occupying the summit. His latest return underlines both his longevity and sustained excellence at the highest level.

Kohli has now risen to the No. 1 ODI ranking for the 11th time in his career and has spent a total of 825 days at the top, the most by any Indian batter. The battle for the top spot remains intense, with just 10 points separating the leading three batters.