Virat Kohli’s latest rise in the Virat Kohli ICC ODI rankings has sparked fresh excitement across the cricketing world, as the former India captain surged to No. 2 after a blistering one-day series against South Africa. And guess what, he is now just eight rating points shy of Rohit Sharma, a scenario that, to be honest, many fans didn’t expect to see again this late in Kohli’s career.
It has been quite the turnaround. At one point, between 2021 and 2023, people wondered why Kohli was not scoring like he used to. But then something shifted. Little by little, the old rhythm returned. And suddenly, everything made sense again.
Kohli’s resurgence reaches another gear
Kohli, now 37, produced 302 runs across three matches, performances that looked practically effortless. His centuries in Ranchi (135) and Guwahati (102) were reminders of that vintage intensity Indian fans know so well. Then came his unbeaten 65 in Visakhapatnam, a knock that clearly showed he still understands pressure better than most.
Long story short, he didn’t just score runs, he dominated every moment. The thing is, this was not just a run spree, it was a statement, and that’s the truth.
His latest jump in the Virat Kohli ICC ODI rankings puts him closer to the top spot than at any time since Babar Azam overtook him in April 2021. Believe it or not, this is the tightest race at the top of ODI batting India has seen in years.
Rohit holds firm, but the gap is shrinking
Rohit Sharma held on to his No. 1 position after scoring 146 runs in the same series. You won’t believe this, but even with Kohli’s dominance, Rohit’s consistency ensured India still sit comfortably with the top two ODI batters in the world.
Think about it: three of the top five ODI batters are Indian, Rohit at No. 1, Kohli at No. 2, and Shubman Gill steady at No. 5. For a team gearing up for a hectic 2026 schedule, that’s serious firepower.
Gill did not feature against South Africa due to workload management, but his position remained secure. To be fair, his record over the past two years speaks for itself.
KL Rahul also found his way upward, climbing to No. 12. His calm presence in the middle order, and his composed run as stand-in captain, showed why he’s quietly becoming one of India’s most dependable white-ball anchors. Honestly, his transformation over the past year has been one of Indian cricket’s underrated storylines.
Kuldeep leads a bowling surge
Meanwhile, India’s bowlers enjoyed their own ranking boosts. Kuldeep Yadav, who has been in seriously good form, jumped to No. 3 among ODI bowlers. His ability to break partnerships out of nowhere has become one of India’s biggest weapons.
If you are anything like me, you probably noticed how often he changes the tempo of a match without making a fuss about it. Before I realised, it became clear he’s now one of the most influential bowlers in the world.
South Africans earn their gains too
South Africa did not return home empty-handed. Quinton de Kock climbed to 13th, Aiden Markram moved to 25th, and Temba Bavuma pushed up to 37th. Their jumps show just how competitive the series really was, even though India dominated large portions of it.
India’s T20I rise continues
The ICC’s latest T20I update delivered more good news for India:
- Axar Patel climbed to 13th among bowlers.
- Arshdeep Singh reached 20th with a mix of disciplined new-ball spells and death-overs control.
- Jasprit Bumrah jumped six places to 25th after a sharp performance in Cuttack.
Turns out India’s bowling depth is expanding at just the right time.
Test rankings: India everywhere
In Test cricket, India continued to crowd the upper tiers:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal stayed at No. 8.
- Shubman Gill climbed to 11th.
- Rishabh Pant moved to 13th after a strong comeback.
Among bowlers, Bumrah remained the world No. 1. Mitchell Starc, riding two Player of the Match Ashes performances, climbed to No. 3. Mohammed Siraj (12th), Ravindra Jadeja (13th), and Kuldeep Yadav (14th) also moved a place higher.
Honestly though, no wonder India look so intimidating in all three formats.
Let’s be honest: Kohli’s return to the top bracket of ODI batting, more than three years after he last held No. 1, changes the entire narrative heading into 2026. India are preparing for multiple white-ball tournaments, transitioning into a slightly newer squad, and yet their most experienced batter is delivering numbers that look straight out of his peak.
And that’s when it clicked. This is not just a rankings update. It’s a reminder.
A reminder that Virat Kohli is still here.
Still scoring.
Still chasing.
Still rising.
And guess what happened next? For the first time in years, the No. 1 ODI ranking is within touching distance again, and suddenly, the chase looks real.
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