India stalwart Virat Kohli moved up to second place in the most recent ICC rankings, which were revealed on Wednesday, as he maintained his quest to reclaim his position as the top ODI batter.
Since Babar Azam of Pakistan replaced him as the best ODI batsman in April 2021, Kohli has not held the top slot. However, after his outstanding recent performance for India in the three-match ODI series against South Africa, the right-hander is getting closer to the top rank once more.
With 302 runs in all three games, the 37-year-old was named Player of the Series. He was suitably rewarded on the most recent rankings, moving up two spots to second overall behind teammate Rohit Sharma.
After an unbeaten 65 in the series decider in Visakhapatnam, Kohli came within eight rating points of Rohit, who accumulated 146 runs throughout the series to maintain his position at the top of the standings.
Despite missing the three-match series, Shubman Gill maintained his fifth position, while stand-in captain KL Rahul moved up two spots to 12th overall.
Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav climbed three places to third place in the bowlers’ charts.
Three South Africans, Quinton de Kock (up three ranks to 13th), Aiden Markram (up four spaces to 25th), and Temba Bavuma (up three spots to 37th), also improved their ODI batting rankings.
Following their convincing 101-run victory in Cuttack, Axar Patel (up two slots to 13th), Arshdeep Singh (up three places to 20th), and Jasprit Bumrah (up six rungs to 25th) all made advances in the T20I rankings.
Gill and Rishabh Pant have both moved up to 11th and 13th place, respectively, while Yashasvi Jaiswal is still the top-ranked Indian batter in the Test rankings at number eight.
Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has risen significantly in the most recent rankings of Test bowlers, which are headed by Jasprit Bumrah. After winning Player of the Match in each of the first two Ashes Tests against England, the left-armer climbed three places to third overall.
With 18 wickets from the two games, Starc has moved up to a new career-high rating and a best-ever ranking of third.
The three Indians, Kuldeep (14th), Ravindra Jadeja (13th), and Muhammad Siraj (12th), have all moved up a spot.
Harry Brook dropped two spots to fourth overall on the list of Test batsmen due to England’s lack of runs in Australia, but Steve Smith (third) and Kane Williamson (second) both move up one spot behind Joe Root at the top.
