Virat Kohli Closes Gap on Shubman Gill in ODI Batting Rankings

Virat Kohli has moved into second place in the latest ICC men’s ODI batting rankings, closing the gap on India captain Shubman Gill after his outstanding century against the West Indies.

Kohli climbed one position to a rating of 796, leaving him just 20 points behind Gill, who remains at the top with 816 rating points.

The veteran Indian batter produced another remarkable performance in the opening ODI against the West Indies, scoring an unbeaten 139 from 88 deliveries. His innings included nine sixes and helped India secure a comfortable eight wicket victory.

The century was Kohli’s 55th in ODI cricket, extending his record as the format’s leading century maker. Gill also reached three figures in the same match, scoring his 10th ODI century and strengthening his position at the top of the rankings.

New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell occupies third place with 794 points, while Rohit Sharma remains fourth with 719.

September 27 proved to be an extraordinary day in ODI cricket, with six centuries recorded across men’s matches around the world. Alongside Kohli and Gill, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, David Miller, West Indies batter Justin Greaves and England’s Tom Banton also reached three figures.

Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis was another major mover in the latest rankings. His impressive 121 from 100 balls against England helped him rise three places to seventh, the highest ranking of his career.

England have only one batter inside the top 10, with Joe Root occupying ninth place. Captain Harry Brook moved up one position to 11th after scoring 77 in the final ODI against Sri Lanka, although England’s series ended with a 223 run victory in the deciding match.

Bavuma climbed 10 places to 32nd following his century, while Miller moved up to 41st. Banton made one of the biggest jumps in the rankings, rising 333 places to 83rd after just 10 ODI appearances.

There was also significant movement among the leading bowlers.

South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj moved three places to third after producing strong performances against Australia. He claimed two wickets for 54 runs in one match before taking four for 20 in another, strengthening his position among the world’s leading ODI bowlers.

India’s Kuldeep Yadav also made a major rise after returning to ODI cricket in impressive fashion. His match winning spell of four wickets for 40 runs helped him climb four places to fifth.

Australia’s Josh Hazlewood returned to the top 10 after taking four wickets in the opening two ODIs. His performances lifted him five places to 10th in the latest rankings.

The movement at the top reflects a period of strong individual performances in ODI cricket, with several established stars making significant gains. For India, the rise of both Kohli and Gill gives the team two of the world’s highest ranked ODI batters as the two continue to play important roles in the national side.

Courtesy: cricinfo