Virat Kohli Returns to No. 1 in ODI Rankings After Four Years

Virat Kohli is back where he has often belonged. The Indian batter has reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the ICC Men’s ODI batting rankings, ending a wait of more than four years since he last held the position in July 2021.

This is the 11th time Kohli has reached the top of the ODI rankings, underlining his long run of consistency at the highest level. His return comes after a superb stretch of form that has once again set him apart from the rest.

Kohli’s rise to No. 1 has been powered by five straight fifty-plus scores in ODIs. In his last five innings, he has scored 74 not out, 135, 102, 65 not out, and 93. These knocks have shown control, hunger, and the calm that defines his batting.

The key innings in this climb was his 93 off 91 balls against New Zealand in the first ODI at Vadodara. Kohli anchored the chase and played the role of match-winner, guiding India home when it mattered most.

With this update, Kohli has overtaken his teammate Rohit Sharma, who has slipped to the No. 3 spot in the rankings. It also highlights a shift at the top after Rohit’s recent run as the leading ODI batter.

The race, however, is extremely tight. Kohli sits on 785 rating points, just one point ahead of New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell, who is second with 784 points. A single innings could change the order again.

This latest achievement also adds to Kohli’s remarkable career record. He has now spent a total of 825 days as the No. 1 ODI batter, the most by any Indian player in history.

Kohli also remains the only batter to have crossed 900 rating points in all three formats, Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. That rare feat speaks volumes about his adaptability and longevity across formats.

At 37, Kohli continues to set benchmarks and silence doubts with his bat. His return to the top shows that class, once again, has outlasted time.