Virat Kohli Rises to No. 2 After West Indies Masterclass

ICC ODI Rankings: Virat Kohli Rises to No. 2 After West Indies Masterclass

ICC ODI Rankings:Virat Kohli rises to No. 2 in the latest ICC ODI batting rankings after his 55th ODI century against West Indies, closing in on Shubman Gill.

ICC ODI Rankings:Virat Kohli has moved closer to the summit of the ICC Men’s ODI Batter Rankings after producing another landmark performance against the West Indies, while a wave of centuries across international cricket has triggered major movement in the latest rankings update.

The latest ICC rankings, released on September 30, reflect a remarkable week for ODI batting. Eight centuries were scored in the format, including six on September 27 alone — the highest number recorded on a single day where complete records are available.

With the 2027 Cricket World Cup drawing closer, the performances have added fresh intrigue to the battle for the top positions in the ODI batting and bowling charts.

Kohli Moves to Second After Stunning West Indies Century

Kohli has climbed one place to second in the ICC ODI Batting Rankings, reaching a rating of 796.

The India star’s rise follows his sensational unbeaten 139 off 88 balls against West Indies in the first ODI at Thiruvananthapuram on September 27. The innings included his 55th ODI century and helped India chase down 296 with eight wickets in hand.

The century was particularly significant because Kohli also crossed the 15,000-run mark in men’s ODI cricket, becoming only the second batter after Sachin Tendulkar to reach the landmark. He achieved the feat in 315 innings, the fastest to the milestone.

Kohli’s latest ranking position also places him firmly within touching distance of teammate Shubman Gill, who remains No. 1 with 816 rating points.

Gill also scored a century in the same match against West Indies, making the rankings battle even more intriguing. His 110 from 108 balls helped India build a dominant position before Kohli completed the chase in emphatic fashion.

ICC ODI Batting Rankings: Top Four

Daryl Mitchell remains third with 794 points, meaning Kohli is only two rating points behind the New Zealand batter.

Rohit Sharma completes the top four with 719 points, giving India three players among the leading four ODI batters.

Kusal Mendis Makes Career-Best Move

Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis was another major beneficiary of the latest rankings update.

Mendis climbed three places to a career-best seventh position, reaching 674 rating points after his impressive 121 in Leeds.

His movement highlights the impact that substantial ODI contributions can have in the rankings, particularly as teams increasingly focus on building momentum ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

England’s Harry Brook also moved closer to the top 10.

Brook climbed one place to 11th with 650 points after scoring a half-century at The Oval. He is now just three rating points behind Ireland’s Harry Tector, who sits 10th with 653.

The narrow gap means another substantial ODI performance could potentially alter the order again in the next update.

South African Batters Make Significant Gains

South Africa also produced several notable ranking movements.

Captain Temba Bavuma climbed an impressive 10 places to 32nd, reaching 556 rating points after scoring a century against Australia.

His rise came during a productive period for South Africa’s batting lineup, with another Proteas batter making an even larger jump.

Matthew Breetzke climbed 19 places to 21st, moving to 607 rating points as his international standing continues to improve.

Meanwhile, David Miller returned to the ODI batting rankings at 41st after his powerful innings against Australia. Miller smashed 142 from 93 balls in the second ODI, adding another major contribution to an already busy week for ODI batters.

Maharaj Leads Bowling Movement

The latest update was not limited to batters.

South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj made one of the biggest moves in the ODI Bowling Rankings after a highly effective series against Australia.

Maharaj took 4/20 and 2/54 across the two matches, helping him rise three places to third with 667 rating points.

He now sits only eight points behind Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed.

India’s Kuldeep Yadav also moved into the top five after taking four wickets against West Indies. The left-arm wrist-spinner climbed four places to fifth with 623 points.

The progress of Maharaj and Kuldeep means two left-arm spinners now occupy prominent positions in the upper reaches of the ODI bowling rankings.

Sri Lanka’s Dunith Wellalage was another major mover. He climbed 12 places to 26th among ODI bowlers with 542 points, while also rising five spots to 17th in the all-rounders’ rankings, where he has 172 points.

Hazlewood Provides Fast-Bowling Presence

While spin dominated much of the movement near the top of the bowling rankings, Australia’s Josh Hazlewood provided a significant boost for the fast-bowling contingent.

Hazlewood climbed five places into the top 10, reaching 10th with 591 rating points after claiming four wickets across Australia’s two ODIs against South Africa.

His rise comes during a week in which batting performances dominated headlines, making his consistency with the ball particularly notable.

Marco Jansen Climbs in All-Rounders’ Rankings

South Africa’s Marco Jansen also benefited from his contributions against Australia.

Jansen scored 94 runs and took three wickets across the first two ODIs of the series, earning a three-place rise to 15th in the ODI All-Rounders’ Rankings with 189 points.

His ability to contribute in both departments continues to make him an important component of South Africa’s ODI setup.

Asian Games Bring T20I Ranking Changes

There were also smaller changes in the T20I rankings following the group-stage action at the Asian Games in Japan.

Nepal’s Kushal Bhurtel was among the notable movers, climbing seven places to 21st in the T20I All-Rounder Rankings with 160 points.

The movement comes as several emerging cricket nations continue to use international tournaments to gain experience and improve their standing across the ICC rankings.

World Cup 2027 Adds Extra Importance

The latest rankings movements arrive at an important stage of the ODI calendar.

With preparations for the 2027 Cricket World Cup beginning to intensify, every major innings and bowling performance can influence the individual rankings as players compete for consistency and recognition.

For India, the biggest storyline is undoubtedly the battle between Gill and Kohli at the top.

Gill currently holds the No. 1 position on 816 points, but Kohli’s latest century has moved him to 796. With Daryl Mitchell only two points behind Kohli, the top of the rankings remains tightly packed.

Kohli’s unbeaten 139 has therefore done more than add another remarkable chapter to his international career. It has also placed him directly into the conversation for the No. 1 ODI batting position as the road toward the 2027 World Cup gathers momentum.

Source: www.icccricketschedule.com