India’s star batter Virat Kohli climbed to the number two spot in the latest ICC ODI rankings for batters, bringing him closer to reclaiming the top position. Kohli has been aiming for the top spot ever since Pakistan's Babar Azam took over the number one position from him back in April 2021.
His recent strong performance in the three-match ODI series against South Africa is the key reason for his rise in the rankings. The star batter was named Player of the Series after scoring an impressive 302 runs, which saw him jump two places to second position, just behind his teammate Rohit Sharma.
Rohit is still number one, with 146 runs in the series. However, Kohli is now just eight rating points away, especially after his unbeaten 65 in the final match, which helped India win the series 2-1.
Meanwhile, Shubman Gill remained steady at number five, and KL Rahul, who captained the side in his absence, moved up two spots to 12th place thanks to his two half-centuries in the series.
In the bowling department, spinner Kuldeep Yadav made a significant leap, climbing three spots to become the third-ranked ODI bowler.
Several South African batters also improved their positions, with Quinton de Kock climbing to 13th, Aiden Markram moving up to 25th, and Temba Bavuma now sitting at 37th.
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In T20I rankings, Indian bowlers have also been rewarded for their strong performances. Following a big win where they bowled out South Africa for just 74 runs, Axar Patel is now 13th, Arshdeep Singh is 20th, and Jasprit Bumrah has jumped to 25th.
In the Test format, Yashasvi Jaiswal continues to be India's highest-ranked batter at number eight. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant have each moved up one position to 11th and 13th, respectively.
The Test bowling rankings, led by Jasprit Bumrah, saw a major shake-up thanks to Australian pacer Mitchell Starc. After an incredible performance in the first two Ashes Tests against England where he took 18 wickets, Starc has surged three spots to a career-high third position.
Other Indian bowlers also climbed in the Test rankings, with Mohammad Siraj, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav each moving up one spot to 12th, 13th, and 14th.
On the Test batting front, England's Joe Root remains at the top after a century in Brisbane. Due to England's batting struggles, Harry Brook has dropped to fourth, allowing New Zealand's Kane Williamson and Australia's Steve Smith to move up to second and third place.