Virat Kohli’s remarkable purple patch has propelled him back to the summit of the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings, marking his return to the No.1 spot for the first time since July 2021. The Indian batting icon leapfrogged teammate Rohit Sharma after producing a composed yet commanding 93 off 91 balls against New Zealand in the opening ODI in Vadodara, a knock that once again underlined his unmatched consistency in the 50-over format.

This is the 11th time Kohli has topped the ODI rankings, a testament to his longevity and adaptability at the highest level. His climb has been powered by a string of authoritative performances over the past few months. During the home series against South Africa in November–December, Kohli registered scores of 135, 102, and an unbeaten 65, before following it up with a classy 74 not out against Australia in the third ODI in Sydney in October.

WATCH – AB de Villiers’ Vaping Moment On Live TV Sparks Buzz During SA20 Match

These innings showcased his ability to control chases and dominate bowling attacks with ease. Virat Kohli has now crossed the fifty-run mark in each of his last five ODI innings, amassing an impressive 469 runs from just five matches. The tally includes two centuries and three half-centuries, highlighting a level of consistency few in world cricket can match.

🚨 VIRAT KOHLI BECOMES THE NEW NO.1 RANKED ODI BATTER. 🚨

– The King has claimed the top spot. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/sdsAoFSaMk

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 14, 2026

As a result, he currently leads the rankings with 785 rating points, narrowly edging past Rohit Sharma, who has slipped to third place with 775 points. Virat Kohli first reached the top of the ODI rankings in October 2013 and has now spent a cumulative 825 days at No.1, the most by any Indian batter in history.

On the all-time list, he sits tenth, with the legendary Vivian Richards leading the chart after an extraordinary 2,306 days at the summit.

WATCH – Hasan Ali’s Fielding Embarrassment Goes Viral In Big Bash League Clash

The battle for the top spot remains fiercely competitive. New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell has surged to second place with 784 rating points after scoring 84 in the first ODI, leaving just a 10-point gap separating the top three batters. Elsewhere, India’s KL Rahul has moved up to 11th in the batting rankings, while fast bowler Mohammad Siraj has climbed five places to 15th in the ODI bowling charts.