Dubai (UAE), February 26: Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli has risen in the latest ICC Men’s Player Rankings, climbing to the fifth spot for ODI batters. This comes after his remarkable performance against Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy, where he scored his 51st ODI century, showcasing his batting brilliance.
Kohli’s surge in the rankings places three Indian batters inside the top five. Opener Shubman Gill maintains his position at number one, while Indian captain Rohit Sharma holds steady at number three, thanks to their consistent performances in the ongoing Champions Trophy. Gill further extended his lead at the top, while former Pakistan captain Babar Azam remains second, despite a lean patch in the tournament.
Kohli is the only player inside the top 10 to move up in the latest ODI rankings. Meanwhile, several players have made notable progress in the rankings, including Will Young (up eight spots to 14th), Ben Duckett (up 27 places to 17th), and Rachin Ravindra (up 18 places to 24th), all of whom made significant strides after their impressive centuries in the Champions Trophy. Additionally, KL Rahul climbed two places to 15th, while South Africa’s Rassie van der Dussen rose three spots to 16th.
In the ODI bowling rankings, Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana retains his top spot, while Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan continues to challenge him in second place. Other bowlers making moves include South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj (up to 4th), New Zealand’s Matt Henry (up to 6th), and Australia’s Adam Zampa (up to 10th). South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada (up four spots to 16th) and New Zealand’s Michael Bracewell (up 31 places to 26th) are among the biggest movers.
Additionally, Michael Bracewell’s strong performance with the ball in the Champions Trophy, taking a four-wicket haul against Bangladesh, has propelled him 26 places up to 11th in the ODI all-rounder rankings. New Zealand’s Ravindra also moved up six places to 15th. Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi remains the top-ranked ODI all-rounder.
These updates highlight the ongoing shifts in the ODI rankings, with players continuing to impress at the Champions Trophy, contributing to their respective national teams’ aspirations in international cricket.