Virat Kohli has surged back into the spotlight of the ODI batting charts, climbing to No. 2 in the latest ICC rankings released on Wednesday. His outstanding form against South Africa has now put him within
touching distance of reclaiming the top position - a spot he last held in April 2021 before Babar Azam dethroned him.
At 37, Kohli continues to redefine longevity in international cricket. His return of 302 runs in three ODIs, crowned by an unbeaten 65 in the Visakhapatnam finale, earned him the Player of the Series award and, more importantly, boosted his rating to within eight points of Rohit Sharma, who remains the No. 1 ODI batter. Rohit himself enjoyed a solid series, scoring 146 runs and maintaining his grip on the top spot.
India's top order remained strong in the rankings shuffle. Shubman Gill held firm at fifth despite missing the series, while stand-in captain K.L. Rahul climbed to No. 12 after contributing crucial runs in Kohli's absence from certain phases of the batting order.
In the bowling department, Kuldeep Yadav continued his remarkable resurgence, jumping three places to third among ODI bowlers. His consistent wicket-taking ability through the middle overs has reinforced India's spin attack ahead of a congested international calendar.
South African batters also saw notable upward movement. Quinton de Kock rose to 13th, Aiden Markram climbed to 25th, and Temba Bavuma moved up to 37th - all rewarded for their steady contributions in the hard-fought series.
T20I rankings brought more good news for India. Axar Patel moved up to 13th, Arshdeep Singh climbed to 20th, and Jasprit Bumrah jumped six places to 25th after India's dominant 101-run win in Cuttack. In the Test batting rankings, Yashasvi Jaiswal remained India's highest-placed batter at eighth, while Gill and Rishabh Pant edged up to 11th and 13th.
Meanwhile, Australia's Mitchell Starc made headlines on the Test bowling charts, leaping to third following consecutive match-winning performances in the Ashes. His haul of 18 wickets in two Tests propelled him to a career-best rating, with only Jasprit Bumrah and Kagiso Rabada ahead of him.
Among Indian Test bowlers, Mohammad Siraj, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav all gained a position each, rounding off a highly successful rankings update for Indian cricket.
Kohli's latest surge has reignited the race for ODI supremacy - and with form on his side, the top spot may soon be his once again.
