Virat Kohli’s remarkable form in the ICC World Cup 2023 has not only led India to victory but also propelled him back to the top of the cricketing world. His exceptional performance, including a historic 50th ODI century, has seen him reclaim the coveted title of Player of the Tournament and secure a well-deserved third position in the ICC Men’s ODI Rankings for batters.
Kohli’s incredible run in the World Cup, where he amassed a tournament-best 765 runs, has pushed him to within striking distance of his teammate Shubman Gill, who currently leads the batter rankings with 826 rating points. Babar Azam closely follows Gill and Kohli with 824 rating points, making it a close race for the pinnacle of ODI batting.
Rohit Sharma’s impressive 597 runs in the World Cup further solidified India’s dominance in the batting department. While Gill managed a respectable 354 runs, Babar’s 320 runs were not enough to carry Pakistan through the knockout stages. These performances enabled Kohli and Rohit to make significant strides towards reclaiming the top rankings.
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Kohli’s dominance in the ODI format is well documented, having held the No.1 position for an astounding 1258 consecutive days over nearly four years from 2017 to 2021. Babar inherited the top spot until Gill’s ascent during the World Cup. Gill and another Indian batter’s surge resulted in Quinton de Kock, the South African opener, slipping two spots to fifth in the ODI batter rankings.
Virat Kohli has made a push to dethrone his compatriot as the No.1 ODI batter 👀
The latest changes in the @MRFWorldwide ICC Men’s Player Rankings following the conclusion of #CWC23 👇https://t.co/RYJbtXlMD2
— ICC (@ICC) November 22, 2023
In the bowling rankings, Mohammed Siraj relinquished his top spot but remains part of an impressive quartet of Indian bowlers in the top 10. Siraj currently secures third place, with Jasprit Bumrah closely behind at fourth. Mohammed Shami holds the 10th position while Kuldeep Yadav sits comfortably at sixth. Keshav Maharaj leads the pack with a substantial 741 rating points, followed by Josh Hazlewood, now at 703 points, climbing up the ladder.
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Virat Kohli’s return to form and the rise of Shubman Gill have once again placed India at the forefront of ODI cricket. With a formidable batting lineup and a potent bowling attack, India will be looking to continue their dominance in the upcoming ODI series against Australia.
