Virat Kohli’s return to his very best has coincided with a surge back to the top of the ICC ODI batting rankings for the first time in nearly five years on Wednesday.
Kohli’s ascent to the top of the ODI batting rankings was confirmed by the latest rankings update unveiled by the ICC shortly before India’s second match of the ongoing series against New Zealand at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot.
FOLLOW: IND vs NZ 2nd ODI LIVE SCORE
The 37-year-old Kohli displaced his compatriot Rohit Sharma to take the top spot for the first time since losing his No. 1 ranking in the format on April 2, 2021. Kohli gained 12 rating points to move up to 785 rating points, while Rohit ceded six to move down from 781 to 775. New Zealand all-rounder Daryll Mitchell vaulted to second place, his career-best ranking having him within a point from Kohli at 784.
After a spell of four consecutive years at the top of the batting rankings in the 50-over format, starting with the 2017 calendar year, Kohli was displaced in early 2021 by Pakistan’s Babar Azam. Babar held onto the top spot for the next four calendar seasons before Rohit clinched the top spot in 2025.
ICC ODI BATTING RANKINGS
#1
VIRAT KOHLI
Reclaims Top Spot After 4-Year Wait | Displaces Rohit Sharma
Journey Back to No. 1
2017-2020
Kohli’s 4-year reign at No. 1 – Four consecutive calendar years at summit of ODI rankings
April 2021
Lost No. 1 ranking to Pakistan’s Babar Azam after 4 years at the top
2021-2024
Babar Azam held top spot for 4 calendar seasons before Rohit Sharma claimed it
2025
Rohit Sharma clinched No. 1 spot – Kohli began pursuit with exceptional form
January 2026
Kohli reclaims No. 1 ranking, displacing teammate Rohit Sharma after 4-year wait
Fuel for the Comeback
7
Successive 50+ Scores | Equals Indian List A Record
5
Scores for India (2 hundreds vs SA, 1 fifty vs SA, 1 hundred vs AUS, 93 vs NZ)
2
Scores for Delhi (1 hundred, 1 fifty in Vijay Hazare Trophy)
Indian Express InfoGenIE
However, Kohli cut the gap with his long-time India teammate with a superb scoring streak, starting with the third ODI against Australia in Sydney in October 2025. Kohli has since racked up seven successive 50-plus scores in the format, equalling the Indian List A record for most such scores in succession. Five of them have come in India colours, besides a century and fifty for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy last month.
Following the Australia tour, Kohli cracked two consecutive centuries and an unbeaten fifty in a 2-1 series win over South Africa. He backed it up with a match-winning 93 in the first ODI in Vadodara, equalling yet another Indian record for the most successive fifty-plus scores in the format.
Kohli has previously strung five fifty-plus scores in succession on four other occasions. Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Rohit and Ajinkya Rahane have also managed the feat among Indians, meaning another such score in Rajkot could elevate Kohli to the top.
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Kohli holds the Indian record for finishing most calendar years (4 – 2017 to 2020) on top of the ODI batting rankings. Only Brian Lara (1993-97), Vivian Richards (1982, 1984-87) and Greg Chappell (1977-81) have finished five calendar years at the summit of the 50-overs rankings.
