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Virat Kohli Reclaims No 1 ODI Batter Spot: The beginning of 2026 is no less than a celebration for Indian cricket fans. Virat Kohli, known as the "King" of cricket, has once again proven why he is considered the world's best batsman. After a long wait of almost four years, Kohli has once again achieved the number one position in the ICC Men's ODI Batting Rankings.
After 4 long years, Virat Kohli has once again become the world's number one ODI batsman
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Virat Kohli's return to this reign began with the first ODI against New Zealand in Vadodara. Chasing a target of 301, Kohli played a brilliant innings of 93 runs off 91 balls. Although he missed his century, his match-winning innings not only led India to victory but also propelled them to the top of the rankings.
Battle of the Best: Kohli Surpasses Rohit Sharma and Daryl Mitchell
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The biggest change in this latest ranking update has been seen in the Indian camp. Virat Kohli has surpassed his teammate and former No. 1 ODI batsman, Rohit Sharma.
- Virat Kohli: 785 rating points (No. 1)
- Daryl Mitchell: 784 rating points (No. 2)
- Rohit Sharma: 775 rating points (No. 3)
Rohit Sharma has now slipped two places to third. Meanwhile, New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell has given Kohli a tough fight thanks to his excellent form and is now in second place, just one point behind Kohli.
End of a 1404-Day Wait: Kohli's Journey Back to the Top
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This journey hasn't been easy for Virat Kohli. In April 2021, Pakistan's Babar Azam overtook him to take the number-one spot. Since then (approximately 1404 days), Kohli has seen many ups and downs. But his form in the last few months is reminiscent of 'vintage Kohli.' His scores in his last 5 ODIs are as follows:
- 93 vs New Zealand
- 65* vs South Africa
- 102 vs South Africa
- 135 vs South Africa
- 74* vs Australia
Virat Kohli Crosses 28,000 International Runs
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During his 93-run innings, Kohli achieved another historic milestone. He became the fastest batsman to reach 28,000 runs in international cricket. With this, he has surpassed Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket (after Sachin Tendulkar).
Current ICC ODI Rankings (Top 3 Batters)
| Rank | Player | Team | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | India | 785 |
| 2 | Daryl Mitchell | New Zealand | 784 |
| 3 | Rohit Sharma | India | 775 |
Also Read: India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI Match Live Scorecard, IND vs NZ Cricket Score
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