Kohli Closes In on Rohit as ICC ODI Rankings Shift; Starc Breaks Into Test Top Three

Virat Kohli has risen to No. 2 in the latest ICC ODI batting rankings, with a Player-of-the-Series performance against South Africa. He is now only behind Rohit Sharma, making the race for the top spot even more competitive.

He hit 302 runs at an average of 151 in the three-match series with consecutive centuries in the first two ODIs and an unbeaten 65 in the decider that saw India clinch the series 2-1.

Rohit Sharma retained his No. 1 position by registering two half-centuries and scoring a total of 146 runs at an average of 48.67. He has 781 rating points, with Kohli close behind on 773.

India also saw gains in the ODI ranking. Stand-in captain KL Rahul climbed two positions to reach No. 12 with scores of 60 and an unbeaten 66 in the first two ODIs. Kuldeep Yadav, who finished as the leading wicket-taker in the series with nine wickets, moved up three places to No. 3 among ODI bowlers.

Dewald Brevis, the South African batter, broke into the top ten of the T20I batting rankings, rising three spots to No. 8 after scoring 22 in the first T20I against India.

There was also movement in the Test rankings. Australia Mitchell Starc, who has been performing well in the Ashes, climbed three positions to No. 3 among Test bowlers. He has 852 rating points, a career high that has seen him take 18 wickets at an average of 14 in the first two Tests. He has also picked up two consecutive Player-of-the-Match awards.

Joe Root, who scored an unbeaten 138 in Brisbane, his first Test century in Australia, leads the Test batting rankings. Kane Williamson and Steven Smith are the ones who follow him, and each of them goes a step higher. Williamson scored 52 in the first Test against West Indies in Christchurch, and Smith has 103 at an average of 51.50, with a top score of 61, so far in the Ashes.