ICC ODI rankings: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, consolidate top batting positions

India captain Virat Kohli and his deputy Rohit Sharma have maintained their top positions in the batting chart, according to the latest ICC ODI rankings released on Monday.

Pace ace Jasprit Bumrah is also leading the pack amongst bowlers as well.

The ranking is following India’s stellar performances against Australia in the just-concluded series, which they came from behind to win 2-1. With the win, Kohli and Rohit, who occupy the first and second positions respectively, have strengthened their positions.

Kohli, who had 183 runs against Australia, Kohli was named the player-of-the-series while Rohit was a close second, with 171 runs to his credit. Rohit was the man of the moment after giving out a match-winning 119 in the deciding ODI in Bengaluru on Sunday.

According to the latest ranking, Kohli had 886 points, while Rohit has 868 points. This means the duo has gained two and three rating points respectively to occupy the top two positions in the batting rankings.

Pakistan’s Babar Azam occupies the third position with 829 points, while opener, Shikhar Dhawan, also moved seven places up to reach 15th position with 170 runs in two innings. He would have moved up higher if not for a shoulder injury that stopped him from batting in Bengaluru.

KL Rahul, who was the opener in the final ODI, also moved up 21 places to occupy the 50th position with an aggregate of 146 runs.

On his return to action from injury against the Aussies, Bumrah is topping the bowlers’ chart with 764 points. He is ahead of New Zealand’s left-arm pacer Trent Boult and Afghanistan’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Others occupying the top five are South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada and Australian Pat Cummins.

Also gaining places is India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. He moved up two places to occupy the 27th position among bowlers after finishing with four wickets in the series.

He is also ranked 10th and moved up four places in the all-rounders’ list after scoring 45 runs in two innings.
Steve Smith, who had the highest score in the series with an aggregate of 229 runs, which included a knock of 131 in the final ODI, was also rewarded as he moved four places up to occupy the 23rd position.

Others who moved up include a formerly top-ranked batsman in the format, David Warner, who moved up one place to sixth; captain Aaron Finch also moved a place into 10th; wicketkeeper Alex Carey occupies 31st position after gaining two slots; leg-spinner Adam Zampa moved up 20 places due to his five wickets score in the series to occupy the 37th position; Kane Richardson moved from 77th to 65th.

Written by Oladipupo Mojeed