Kohli closes in on top spot in ICC ODI Batter Rankings

Achievers with the bat in ODI cricket have caused a sizeable shift in the latest ICC Rankings.

Eight centuries were scored in the format in the last week, with six on September 27, the most recorded in a single day (where records are known).

It led to a number of jumps in the ICC Batting Rankings in Wednesday’s update, as teams begin to ramp up their preparation for the Cricket World Cup 2027.

Virat Kohli’s 55th ODI century (139 not out v West Indies) and 86th across all formats helped him rise one spot to second, with his rating of 796 only bettered by teammate Shubman Gill (816), who bolstered his rating with a century of his own in the same match. Daryl Mitchell (794) is the only player denying an India trifecta, with Rohit Sharma sitting in fourth (719).

Over in England, Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis made a move of his own, up three spots to a career-best seventh (674) thanks to his 121 in Leeds, while Harry Brook closes in on a top ten spot, moving one spot to 11th (650) thanks to a half century at The Oval. Brook sits just three rating points from Ireland’s Harry Tector (653).

Meanwhile in South Africa, Temba Bavuma’s century against Australia led to a 10-spot jump to 32nd (556), and Matthew Breetzke continues his rise in international standing, going up 19 places to 21st (607). David Miller, who too feasted with runs (142 off 93 balls in the second ODI), re-entered the rankings at 41st.

It was another Protea who made arguably the most notable move on the bowling side of the ODI Bowling Rankings, with Keshav Maharaj’s 4/20 and 2/54 against the Aussies helping him jump three spots to third (667). 

Maharaj sits just eight rating points behind Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed, with another left-arm spinner in Kuldeep Yadav making a four-spot move to fifth (623) after his four-wicket haul against the West Indies. Dunith Wellalage continued the work of the left-arm spin brigade, with the Sri Lanka all-rounder making a 12-spot jump to 26th for bowlers (542), and up five spots to 17th (172) for all-rounders.

Australia’s Josh Hazlewood stepped up for the fast bowlers in a week of batting excellence, moving five spots into 10th (591) thanks to his four wickets across the two ODIs in their South Africa series.

Marco Jansen’s all-round work against Australia, having scored 94 runs and taken three wickets in the first two ODIs, takes him up three spots to 15th for ODI All-Rounders (189).

There were minor T20I shuffles after group stage action at the Asian Games in Japan.

Kushal Bhurtel of Nepal was the notable head-turner in the last week, enjoying a seven-spot climb to 21st (160) on the T20I All-Rounder Rankings.