Virat Kohli has made another big move in the latest ICC ODI batting rankings. After producing a stunning unbeaten 139 against the West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram, the former India captain has climbed to No. 2 in the world.
The latest rankings, released by the International Cricket Council on Wednesday, September 30, show Kohli on 796 rating points. Only India captain Shubman Gill is ahead of him, with 816 points.
That means Kohli is now just 20 rating points away from the top spot.
The timing could hardly be better for the Indian batting star. His 139 not out in the first ODI against West Indies was not just another century. It was a record-setting innings that once again underlined why Kohli remains such an important figure in India’s ODI setup.
Kohli’s 139 changes the rankings picture
Kohli walked into the first ODI at the Greenfield International Stadium with plenty of attention on him. He responded in typically aggressive fashion.
Chasing West Indies’ total, Kohli smashed an unbeaten 139 from just 88 deliveries, with 10 fours and nine sixes. His strike rate was an impressive 157.95.
The innings helped India secure a comfortable eight-wicket victory, with Kohli and Shubman Gill both scoring centuries.
For Kohli, there was an additional milestone during the chase. He became only the second batter in men’s ODI history to reach 15,000 runs, joining Sachin Tendulkar in an exclusive club. He reached the landmark in his 315th ODI innings and became the fastest batter to the mark.
The 139 was also Kohli’s 55th ODI century, adding another major achievement to an already remarkable international career.
Now that innings has translated into a significant rankings jump.
Before the latest update, Kohli was third in the ODI batting rankings behind Gill and New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell. He has now moved above Mitchell and sits directly behind his Indian teammate.
Shubman Gill still holds the No. 1 position
Gill remains the world’s No. 1 ODI batter with 816 rating points.
The interesting part of the latest update is just how much the gap has changed. Kohli is on 796, meaning there are only 20 points separating the two Indian batters.
That makes the remaining matches of the West Indies ODI series particularly interesting from a rankings perspective.
Kohli does not need to do anything extraordinary to remain firmly in contention. Another substantial performance could potentially bring him even closer, although ICC rankings depend on several factors and a player’s rating can change according to performances, opposition and the ratings of other players.
The important point is that the gap is now relatively small.
For Indian cricket fans, it also creates an unusual situation: the top two spots in the ODI batting rankings are occupied by two Indian batters.
India’s dominance continues in the top five
Kohli’s rise is part of a strong showing by Indian batters in the latest ODI rankings.
Alongside Gill and Kohli, former India ODI captain Rohit Sharma remains inside the top five. Rohit is ranked fourth with 753 rating points.
Daryl Mitchell is third on 794 points, while Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran occupies fifth position with 719 points.
That means India currently have three batters inside the top five of the ICC ODI batting rankings.
Rohit’s continued presence near the top also adds another interesting layer to India’s batting depth. Even after moving away from the ODI captaincy, he remains one of the highest-ranked batters in the format.
Babar Azam remains the only Pakistani in the top 10
Pakistan have one representative inside the latest ODI batting top 10.
Babar Azam is ranked sixth with 689 rating points. He is followed by Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis, West Indies captain Shai Hope and England’s Joe Root.
Ireland’s Harry Tector completes the top 10.
The rankings therefore feature players from several major cricketing nations, but India’s presence is particularly noticeable with Gill, Kohli and Rohit all occupying places near the top.
Can Kohli return to No. 1?
That is now the obvious question.
Kohli has previously spent a long period at the top of the ICC ODI batting rankings, so reaching No. 1 again would represent another chapter in an already extraordinary ODI career.
The latest jump shows how quickly the rankings can change after a major performance. Kohli’s unbeaten 139 has taken him from third to second and significantly reduced the distance between him and Gill.
However, the rankings should not be treated as a simple prediction of what will happen next. Gill remains No. 1, and performances in upcoming matches will determine how the ratings move.
What is certain is that Kohli has put himself firmly back into the conversation.
His recent ODI batting has also been noticeably more aggressive. Before the West Indies series, the ICC highlighted the increase in his scoring rate and Kohli’s own desire to play with greater freedom and accelerate when the situation allows.
That approach was on full display in Thiruvananthapuram.
At 37, Kohli is still producing innings that have a direct impact on India’s results as well as the ICC rankings. And with the West Indies ODI series continuing, there is another opportunity for him to close the gap further.
For now, Shubman Gill remains the world’s No. 1 ODI batter.
But Virat Kohli is only 20 rating points behind.
And after a 139 not out in his previous outing, the race at the top of the ICC ODI rankings has suddenly become one of the biggest talking points in Indian cricket.
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