Punjab Newsline,Sports:
Despite stellar performance against India, Kohli drops as New Zealand’s Mitchell claims top ODI ranking
The latest ICC ODI batting rankings have seen a major shift. Virat Kohli, who held the number-1 position for just a week, has now dropped to second place. This change comes after a brilliant performance by New Zealand’s batsman Daryl Mitchell. Mitchell scored two centuries and 352 runs in the recent series against India, earning 845 ranking points and securing the top position.
Kohli currently has 795 points, keeping him at number two. This brief rise and fall in Kohli’s ranking highlights how international cricket rankings are constantly changing and heavily dependent on performance.
Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran occupies the third spot in the rankings. India’s Rohit Sharma is in fourth place, while Shubman Gill is at number five. Rohit has maintained consistent performances for Team India, and Gill has also showcased his potential as a young batter.
Mitchell’s achievement reflects his consistent form and remarkable performance against India. Scoring over 350 runs, including two centuries, in the series was key to him reaching the number-1 ranking, underlining the importance of every ranking point in ICC’s system.
The rivalry between Kohli and Mitchell has added excitement for cricket fans. The coming months will be crucial to see how both players perform, especially in upcoming India vs New Zealand matches.
The ICC’s latest ranking includes batsmen from four different countries in the top five, showing how competitive international cricket has become. The current rankings of Kohli, Mitchell, Zadran, Rohit, and Gill reflect who can maintain consistent performance at the highest level.