Virat Kohli has inched closer to reclaiming the title of number one ODI batter in the ICC rankings. The former India captain was the world’s best batter for more than 3 years at the end of the 2010s. His dominance continued until April 2021, when Pakistan’s Babar Azam displaced him, and Kohli hasn’t returned since.
Kohli looks to replace Rohit as No. 1 ODI batter
After his 135-run knock against South Africa in Ranchi on November 30, Kohli has displaced his captain, Shubman Gill, and moved from number five to four. He needs just 33 rating points to reclaim the spot. At the moment, Kohli’s India teammate Rohit Sharma occupies it. Kohli is in action in the IND vs SA 2nd ODI in Raipur and another century could propel him to the top once again.
Rohit has been in splendid touch as well; he scored 57 in Ranchi to distance himself from New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell and Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran.
ICC Men’s ODI batting ranking (December 3, 2025)
| Pos | Team | Player | Rating | Career Best Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | Rohit Sharma | 783 | 882 v Sri Lanka at Headingley 2019 |
| 2 | New Zealand | Daryl Mitchell | 766 | 782 v West Indies at Christchurch 2025 |
| 3 | Afghanistan | Ibrahim Zadran | 764 | 764 v Bangladesh at Abu Dhabi 2025 |
| 4 (+1) | India | Virat Kohli | 751 | 909 v England at Headingley 2018 |
| 5 (-1) | India | Shubman Gill | 738 | 847 v Australia at Indore 2023 |
Kuldeep Yadav moves close to the top five
After claiming a 4-wicket haul against South Africa, Kuldeep Yadav has jumped up from number seven to six in the ICC Men’s ODI bowling rankings. The left-arm wrist spinner dismissed Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, and Prenelan Subrayen. However, Kuldeep’s still far away from the top spot. Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan holds that tight with 710 rating points, compared to Kuldeep’s 641.
