ODI Rankings: Virat Kohli makes big jump to close gap on Babar Azam; de Kock, Klaasen surge to top-4 after batting blitzes

Virat Kohli took big leap in the newly released ODI batting rankings as India's batting maestro has secured the no.5 spot riding on his back-to-back stellar knocks in the ODI World Cup.

Abhijeet Kumar Singh

• Wed • 25 Oct 2023

India's Virat Kohli (left), Pakistan's Babar Azam (centre) and South Africa's Quinton De Kock, Heinrich Klaasen in this frame

Highlights:

Virat Kohli has rocketed to fifth spot in the ODI Batting Rankings.

Riding on his exceptional performances in the ongoing ODI World Cup, batting juggernaut Virat Kohli has taken a massive leap in the newly released ICC ODI batting rankings. After his impressive 95-run knock against New Zealand, Kohli has rocketed to no.5 in the batting standings with 747 points to close gap with Numero Uno Babar Azam. Notably, David Warner is sharing the fifth spot with Kohli with the same rating points as the star Australian opener continues to dazzle with the bat in the ongoing ODI World Cup. Warner scored a blistering 163 to lead Australia to a comprehensive victory over Pakistan few days back. Kohli has raked in 354 runs in a total of five matches in the ongoing World Cup, which also includes a brilliant century against Bangladesh.

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Meanwhile, despite amassing 157 runs from five innings Pakistan skipper Babar continues to lead the chart with 829 points. However, he is closely chased by India's batting sensation Shubman Gill at no.2, who has 823 rating points against his name with 95 runs in three matches.

Gill isn't the only cricketer making strides against Babar. The in-form South African, Quinton de Kock, is hot on his heels, sitting third in the ODI batter rankings after starting the World Cup with three outstanding centuries. South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen has also climbed impressively, moving up seven spots to a career-best fourth position.

Currently, Quinton is the top run-scorer in the ongoing ODI World Cup, amassing 407 runs with a best of 174. On the other hand, Ireland's Harry Tector surpasses Rohit, securing the seventh position. Rohit has so far cracked 311 runs in five matches to rank third in the list of top run getters in the World Cup after De Kock and Kohli.

Rassie van der Dussen is in ninth, and Imam-ul-Haq rounds out the top 10 in the ODI batting rankings.

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