Virat Kohli has made a strong push toward the top of the ICC ODI batting rankings, climbing to No. 2 after a brilliant series against South Africa. The former India captain is now just eight rating points behind Rohit Sharma, who continues to hold the No. 1 position.
Kohli’s rise comes on the back of an outstanding ODI series in which he amassed 302 runs and walked away with the Player of the Series award. Rohit Sharma, meanwhile, scored 146 runs across the same series, which proved enough to retain his place at the summit.
Kohli’s Best Chance at No. 1 Since 2021
The South Africa series turned out to be Kohli’s strongest ODI campaign in recent years. He struck back-to-back centuries in Ranchi and Raipur, underlining his dominance, and wrapped up the series with a composed unbeaten 65 in Visakhapatnam.
This surge has brought Kohli closer to the No. 1 ranking than at any point since March 2021, when he last topped the ODI charts. With India set to face New Zealand in a three-match ODI series starting January 11, the battle for the top spot is far from over.
Other Indians Gain Ground in ICC Rankings
India’s strong performances were reflected across the updated rankings. KL Rahul climbed to 12th among ODI batters, while Kuldeep Yadav jumped to third in the ODI bowling rankings, continuing his rise as a key white-ball weapon.
In T20 Internationals, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, and Jasprit Bumrah all moved up the bowling charts. South Africa’s Dewald Brevis also made headlines by breaking into the top ten T20I batters.
The Test rankings saw notable changes as well, with Mitchell Starc surging to third place among bowlers after claiming 18 wickets in the first two Ashes Tests. Batters Rachin Ravindra, Tom Latham, Shai Hope, and Justin Greaves also enjoyed ranking boosts.
Rohit Sharma Holds Firm at No. 1
Rohit Sharma became the ICC Men’s No. 1 ODI batter for the first time in his career in October 2025, following a memorable series against Australia. He scored 202 runs in three matches, earning the Player of the Series award.
His standout innings included a fluent 73 in Adelaide and a majestic 121 in Sydney, where he also brought up his 50th international century. Before that series, Rohit was ranked No. 3, making his climb to the top all the more impressive.
As things stand, Rohit remains No. 1, with Kohli right behind him in second place, separated by the narrowest of margins.
Rohit Enters Elite Club With 20,000 International Runs
The South Africa series also delivered a major personal milestone for Rohit Sharma. During the third ODI in Visakhapatnam, he crossed 20,000 runs in men’s international cricket, reaching the landmark with a single off Keshav Maharaj.
With that achievement, Rohit joined an elite group of Indian legends — Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and Rahul Dravid — as the only Indians to reach the milestone. His international tally now stands at 11,516 ODI runs, featuring 33 centuries, 61 half-centuries, and an average of 49.21.
How ICC Player Rankings Are Calculated?
The ICC player rankings operate on a weekly, points-based system that evaluates a player’s performance against their own career standards. Rankings for men’s cricket are updated every Wednesday, factoring in all matches completed before that day.
Each player is assigned a rating out of 1000 points, which changes solely through an automated algorithm. A performance that exceeds a player’s usual level results in a rating increase, while a below-par outing leads to a drop. The process involves no human judgement, and the weighting differs slightly across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
With Kohli in red-hot form and Rohit firmly holding the summit, the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand could prove decisive in shaping the next chapter of the ICC ODI batting rankings race.
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