India batter Virat Kohli has moved up to second place in the latest ICC Men’s ODI batting rankings following his outstanding century against the West Indies.
Kohli’s rise comes after he scored an unbeaten 139 off 88 balls in the first ODI in Thiruvananthapuram, where India defeated the West Indies by eight wickets. The innings included his 55th ODI century and also saw him reach the milestone of 15,000 ODI runs.
His latest performance has lifted his rating to 796 points, placing him behind India teammate Shubman Gill, who remains at the top with 816 rating points, according to the latest rankings reported by Samaa.
Kohli Makes Significant Ranking Jump
Kohli has moved up one position after his match-winning performance against the West Indies.
The veteran batter entered the series in third place, behind Daryl Mitchell and Shubman Gill. His unbeaten century has now pushed him into second position.
New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell is third with 794 rating points, while India’s Rohit Sharma occupies fourth place with 719 points.
The latest movement highlights the impact of Kohli’s recent ODI performances. The ICC had previously listed him third with 767 points in its September 22 rankings.
55th ODI Century Against West Indies
Kohli produced a dominant innings during India’s chase in the first ODI against the West Indies.
The West Indies posted 295/7 after being asked to bat first. India then chased down the target in 41.4 overs, with Kohli finishing unbeaten on 139.
Kohli shared a crucial 151-run partnership with Shubman Gill, helping India take control of the chase after Rohit Sharma’s dismissal.
Gill also scored a century, making 110 from 108 deliveries before being dismissed. Kohli then completed his 55th ODI hundred and finished the match by hitting the winning six.
Another Major Milestone for Kohli
The century was significant beyond the rankings.
Kohli also became only the second player in ODI history to reach 15,000 runs, joining former India batter Sachin Tendulkar in the exclusive milestone.
The achievement adds another landmark to Kohli’s long ODI career and came during an innings in which he remained unbeaten until India completed the chase.
His ability to convert the innings into a century also directly contributed to India’s comfortable victory in the opening match of the series.
Gill Remains at the Top
Despite Kohli’s rise, Shubman Gill continues to occupy the No. 1 position in the ODI batting rankings.
Gill’s rating of 816 points keeps him ahead of his India teammate. His century in the first ODI against the West Indies also helped maintain his strong position in the rankings.
The two Indian batters therefore occupy the top two positions in the latest list, with Mitchell remaining just behind them.
Kusal Mendis Reaches Career-Best Ranking
Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis was another major mover in the latest batting rankings.
Mendis climbed three places to reach a career-best seventh position, with a rating of 674 points.
His rise places him among the leading ODI batters while reflecting his recent performances in the format.
Pakistan’s Babar Azam, meanwhile, remains in sixth place in the latest rankings.
Abrar Ahmed Remains Second Among Bowlers
There was also notable movement in the ODI bowling rankings.
Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan continues to lead the bowling rankings, while Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed remains in second place with 675 rating points.
South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj made a significant move, climbing three places to third with 667 points after strong performances against Australia.
Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi dropped one place and now sits at eighth in the ODI bowling rankings.
India-West Indies Series Continues
Kohli’s latest century has given him another boost ahead of the remaining matches of the ODI series against the West Indies.
The second ODI is scheduled for September 30 in Guwahati, giving Kohli another opportunity to add to his recent run of strong performances.
For India, the series also provides an opportunity for its leading batters to continue building momentum in the ODI format.
Kohli’s return to second place, Gill’s continued position at the top and the performances of other leading players have added further interest to the latest ICC rankings.
Also read: Virat Kohli Surpasses Sachin Tendulkar, Breaking Another Record
