In a move that feels like a return to the natural order of world cricket, Virat Kohli has officially reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings. The update, released on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, follows Kohli’s match-winning performance against New Zealand in the series opener, marking his first time at the summit since July 2021.
The 37-year-old batting icon displaced teammate Rohit Sharma, who slipped to third place after a brief stay at the top. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell has surged to a career-high No. 2, sitting just one rating point behind Kohli in an incredibly tight race for the crown.
The Road Back to the Top
Kohli’s return to the pinnacle is the result of a “purple patch” that has seen him score five consecutive 50+ scores in the format. His recent odyssey includes:
- Australia (Oct 2025): 74* in Sydney.
- South Africa (Nov-Dec 2025): 135, 102, and 65*.
- New Zealand (Jan 11, 2026): A sublime 93 off 91 balls at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara, which anchored India’s successful chase of 301.
“If I am being brutally honest, I am not thinking about milestones. The only thing was to get the team into a good position in the chase,” Kohli said after being named Player of the Match in Vadodara.
ICC ODI Batting Rankings (As of Jan 14, 2026)
| Rank | Player | Country | Rating Points |
| 1 | Virat Kohli | India | 785 |
| 2 | Daryl Mitchell | New Zealand | 784 |
| 3 | Rohit Sharma | India | 775 |
| 4 | Ibrahim Zadran | Afghanistan | 764 |
| 5 | Shubman Gill | India | 725 |
Historical Context: King Kohli’s Longevity
This marks the 11th time in Kohli’s career that he has reached the No. 1 position. He has now spent a cumulative 825 days at the top, the most by any Indian batter in history. He currently sits 10th on the all-time list for most days at No. 1, a list headed by the legendary Sir Vivian Richards (2,306 days).
Ashes & Test Rankings: Australia Dominates
The weekly update also reflected the conclusion of the Ashes 2025-26, where Australia secured a commanding 4-1 series win in Sydney.
- Batting: Travis Head and Steve Smith moved up to 3rd and 4th respectively. England’s Joe Root remains the world’s No. 1 Test batter.
- Bowling: Mitchell Starc jumped to 3rd place after finishing the series with 31 wickets. He is also now among the top five Test all-rounders.
- Rising Star: England’s Jacob Bethell skyrocketed 25 places to 52nd after his marathon knock of 154 in the final Test.
Other Notable Moves
- Mohammad Siraj (India) advanced five places to 15th in the ODI bowling rankings.
- Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka) climbed to 2nd in the T20I bowling rankings following a stellar series against Pakistan.
- KL Rahul moved up to 11th in ODIs after his unbeaten 29 sealed the Vadodara chase for India.