New Delhi,dec 10
India’s great Virat Kohli has continued his push to regain his place as the best ODI batter in the world as he made further gains on the latest ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings. Kohli has secured the second spot in the latest ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings while Rohit Sharma remains at the top.Kohli hasn’t held the No.1 position for ODI batters since Pakistan’s Babar Azam displaced him in April 2021, but the right-hander is closing in on the top spot once again following his superb recent efforts for India in the three-match ODI series against South Africa, as per the ICC website.The 37-year-old was adjudged Player of the Series for his 302 runs across the three matches, and he was duly rewarded on the latest set of rankings as he improved two places to second overall behind teammate Rohit Sharma.Rohit amassed 146 runs across the series to hold on to his spot at the top of the rankings, with Kohli closing to within eight rating points on the back of his unbeaten innings of 65 not out in the series finale in Visakhapatnam.The next ODIs India are scheduled to play are a three-match series against New Zealand at home from 11 January, and all eyes will be on Kohli and Rohit as they go head-to-head in the race to hold the premier position for ODI batters.Kohli wasn’t the only Indian player to make significant gains on the updated rankings this week, with teammate KL Rahul also making eye-catching progress for ODI batters. The wicketkeeper-batter rose two places to 12th overall, while left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav (up three spots to third) was the big winner on the list for ODI bowlers.South Africa trio Quinton de Kock (up three rungs to 13th), Aiden Markram (up four places to 25th) and Temba Bavuma (up three spots to 37th) also made gains on the rankings for ODI batters despite the fact India won a high-scoring series 2-1. There are also gains on the latest T20I rankings following the opening game of the series between India and South Africa, with Proteas young gun Dewald Brevis moving into the top 10 for T20I batters as he rises three places to eighth overall.
