Kohli best ODI batsman in the world

India’s Virat Kohli has replaced teammate Rohit Sharma as the top-ranked batter in men’s ODIs, following his 91-ball 93 led India’s chase to top New Zealand’s 300 in the first of their three-match series in Vadodara on Sunday.

With the latest update, Kohli has achieved the top spot on the table for the 11th time. He first got there in October 2013, and has now spent a total of 825 days at No.1, the most by an India batter. Kohli is in 10th place on the all-time list, which is topped by Vivian Richards who held the position for 2306 days.

His recent run has been spectacular. Prior to his Player-of-the-Match performance in Vadodara, he had scores of 74 not out, 135, 102 and 65 not out in his last four ODIs, the only format he is still active in internationally.

As for Sharma, he has not only conceded the top spot, but has also slipped two spots to No. 3 after scoring just 26 in the opening ODI. 

Daryl Mitchell, who top-scored with 84 in 71 balls for New Zealand in that game, has moved up to No. 2 from No. 3, but those spots could change with one standout innings: Kohli has 785 points, Mitchell 784, and Rohit 775.

KL Rahul is the other batter to make a move up the table, going from No. 12 to No. 11 after scoring 29 not out in 21 deliveries in Vadodara.

The Ashes series is over, and Travis Head, who topped the run-scorers’ charts with 629 runs, and Steven Smith, who finished with a flourish with 138 in the finale at the SCG, have moved up in the latest Test batting rankings.

Head is now up at No. 3 and Smith at No. 4. Joe Root, who had 400 runs in the series, and Harry Brook, who had 358, occupy the top two positions. Their team-mate Jacob Bethell, who hit 154 in the second innings at SCG, rose a remarkable 25 places to 52nd.

Mitchell Starc was the standout bowler in the series, finishing with 31 wickets and the Player-of-the-Series award. His numbers took him up six spots from ninth to third on the Test bowlers’ table.

Scott Boland’s 20 wickets in the series, meanwhile, helped him hold on to the seventh position.

In men’s T20Is, Wanindu Hasaranga’s five wickets in the three-match series at home against Pakistan, has moved him up three places to second among the bowlers, while Sahibzada Farhan gained among batters, going from sixth to fifth, after scoring 51 in the first game. (ESPN CRICINFO)