Virat Kohli’s remarkable late-career resurgence reached another milestone on Wednesday as the Indian batting icon climbed to No. 2 in the latest ICC ODI rankings. His strong performance in the one-day series against South Africa has brought him within just eight rating points of teammate and current world No. 1 Rohit Sharma—his closest pursuit of the top position since April 2021, when Pakistan’s Babar Azam overtook him.
The 37-year-old was in sublime form throughout the three-match series, amassing 302 runs and earning the Player of the Series award. Back-to-back centuries in Ranchi (135) and Guwahati (102), followed by an unbeaten 65 in Visakhapatnam, highlighted a dominant run that echoed his prime years, marked by consistency and match-winning contributions.
Rohit Sharma remained firmly at No. 1 after accumulating 146 runs during the series. While Kohli’s brilliance grabbed most of the spotlight, Rohit’s steady performances ensured India held the top two spots in the ODI batting rankings—a reminder of the era when the duo regularly led global charts.
Shubman Gill, who was rested for the series, retained his No. 5 ranking, further showcasing India’s depth in ODI batting. KL Rahul’s composed outings as stand-in captain lifted him two places to No. 12, continuing his upward climb in white-ball cricket over the past year.
India’s dominance extended to the bowling rankings as well. Kuldeep Yadav, one of the most reliable ODI bowlers of the year, jumped three spots to No. 3. His sharp middle-overs spells and timely breakthroughs against South Africa further cemented his status as a world-class wrist-spinner.
Several South African players also saw positive movement. Quinton de Kock jumped to No. 13, Aiden Markram moved up to 25th, and captain Temba Bavuma climbed to 37th after contributing key innings in the series.
The latest T20I rankings delivered more good news for India. Axar Patel rose to 13th among bowlers, Arshdeep Singh reached No. 20, and Jasprit Bumrah advanced six places to 25th following India’s emphatic 101-run win over South Africa in the Cuttack opener.
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In Test cricket, India consolidated their position further. Yashasvi Jaiswal maintained his No. 8 ranking, while Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant moved up to 11th and 13th, respectively. New Zealand’s Mitchell Starc grabbed headlines by climbing to No. 3 after standout Ashes performances, sitting just behind No. 1 Jasprit Bumrah. India’s Mohammed Siraj (12th), Ravindra Jadeja (13th), and Kuldeep Yadav (14th) each rose a spot, highlighting India’s strong presence among the world’s elite bowlers.
Kohli’s latest surge—more than three years after he last held the ODI top spot—adds excitement ahead of a busy 2026 white-ball calendar, with India now showcasing an unmatched cluster of top-ranked talent across all formats.