Virat Kohli vs Rohit Sharma: ICC ODI rankings heat up as top Indian stars battle for top spot

Rohit Sharma is the No.1 ranked ODI batter, while Virat Kohli moved to second spot in the rankings after his heroics in the South Africa ODIs.

Indian cricket star Virat Kohli has taken a massive leap in the recently released ICC ODI rankings. The 37-year-old has moved to number two in the latest rankings after his latest exploits with the bat in the recent series against South Africa at home. Kohli, scored centuries in Ranchi and Raipur, before ending the series with yet another unbeaten fifty in Vizag.

Former Indian skipper Rohit Sharma retained his spot as the top-rated batter in ODI cricket with 781 points. Virat Kohli currently is second on the list with 773 points displacing New Zealand star Daryl Mitchell who has 766 points. Thanks to Rohit and Virat’s exploits, the hosts were able to win the ODI series with 2-1 margin against South Africa.

India’s test and ODI skipper Shubman Gill is fifth on the list with 723 points. The 26-year-old has missed the ODI series owing to injury he suffered in the first test that was played in Kolkata. Other Indian batter to be ranked in the top ten is Shreyas Iyer who is tenth on the list with 679 points. Veteran wicketkeeper and batter KL Rahul is 12th on the list with 649 points.

Virat Kohli recreates old form with the bat in South Africa ODIs

Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli returned to the field after months post his sudden retirement from test cricket. The 37-year-old was out for successive ducks in the ODI series against Australia before ending the series with a brilliant fifty.

Kohli, then showed flashes of his old batting form in the ODI series against South Africa. In the first ODI, Kohli scored his 52nd ODI ton when he hit 135 off just 120 balls with the help of 11 boundaries and seven sixes. This was followed by knock of 102 in the next game which was played in Raipur, which was Kohli’s 53rd in ODI cricket.

The veteran batter was named Player of the Series for his amazing performance with the bat. Kohli, will next be seen in action when he plays for Delhi in the upcoming Indian domestic tournament. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be seen next playing against New Zealand in early 2026 in a three-match ODI series.  

Former India star makes huge statement on veteran batting duo

Ravichandran Ashwin, who has shared the dressing room with both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma made a huge statement on his YouTube channel. The 39-year-old said that he found it ‘laughable’ when it comes to both Rohit and Virat having to ‘prove’ themselves in a bid to play the ICC 2027 ODI World Cup.,

Ashwin said on his YouTube Channel:

“The fact that Virat and Rohit have to prove is itself a laughable thing. What do they need to prove? In such long careers, we have all ups and downs, we all have good and bad times”.

India’s former spin wizard also backed Rohit Sharma’s new found fitness levels and said:

“The fact that Rohit has worked on it (fitness) and come back, so props to him. The fact that Virat is batting as well as he is also shows the kind of work both of them have put in.”

The former Indian star also added:

“They don’t have to prove anything to anyone. It is actually an example for all the next generation of players coming through, showing that you need to make sacrifices and demonstrate commitment to the game if you want to have such lengthy careers. The game is bigger than anyone else.”

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