Virat Kohli's quest to reclaim the top spot as the No.1 ranked ODI player has gained significant momentum following his stellar performance in the recent ODI World Cup.
Kohli, the star from India, scored an impressive 765 runs during the tournament, propelling him to third place in the latest MRF Tyres ODI Player Rankings, just 35 rating points behind his teammate Shubman Gill.
While Gill continues to lead the batter rankings with 826 rating points, closely followed by Pakistan skipper Babar Azam at 824, Kohli's surge to 791 and India skipper Rohit Sharma's move to fourth place with 769 points put them within striking distance. The dynamic performances of Kohli and Rohit during the World Cup, where Kohli achieved triple figures three times, breaking Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most ODI centuries, and Rohit secured 597 runs, make them formidable contenders for the top spot.
Gill's commendable 354 runs and Babar's 320, as Pakistan fell short of the knockout stages, paved the way for Kohli and Rohit's ascent in the rankings. Kohli, a former No.1 who held the position for an impressive 1258 consecutive days between 2017 and 2021, looks to reclaim his throne from Gill, who took the premier position during the World Cup.
The rise of the Indian duo has implications for South Africa's Quinton de Kock, who drops to fifth place, and New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell, ascending to sixth with 552 runs. A notable mover in the ODI batter rankings is Australia's Travis Head, surging an impressive 28 places to 15th overall after a standout century and Player of the Match performance in the World Cup final.
In the bowlers' rankings, South Africa's spinner Keshav Maharaj maintains his lead, while Australia's experienced seamer Josh Hazlewood rises to second, Mitchell Starc to 12th, and skipper Pat Cummins to 27th after a successful World Cup campaign.
India's bowling duo Mohammed Siraj (third) and Jasprit Bumrah (fourth), firmly secure spots in the top 10, while Kuldeep Yadav drops to equal sixth. The ODI rankings for all-rounders witness little change post-World Cup, with Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan retaining a comfortable lead, while New Zealand's Mitchell Santner slips to seventh, and Bangladesh's Mehidy Hasan Miraz climbs to ninth.
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