Kohli reclaims top spot in ODI rankings following brilliant half-century against New Zealand

By Admin

15 Jan, 2026

Introduction
India’s modern-day batting great Virat Kohli has once again etched his name at the top of world cricket. After a sensational knock against New Zealand, Kohli has reclaimed the number one position in the ICC ODI rankings, marking a historic return after more than four years.

A commanding return to number one
At 37, Kohli’s rise back to the summit comes after scoring a sublime 91-ball 93 in the first ODI of the three-match series in Vadodara. His innings guided India to a four-wicket victory over the Black Caps on Sunday, January 11, 2026. With this performance, Kohli replaced Rohit Sharma at the top of the rankings, while the former Indian skipper slipped to third place. This is Kohli’s first time at number one since July 2021.

Another milestone in an illustrious career
Kohli’s 93 against New Zealand was not just match-winning but also historic. The knock made him the second-highest run-getter in men’s international cricket, behind the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. It further underlined his longevity and consistency at the highest level of the game.

Red-hot form in recent ODIs
Kohli’s recent ODI numbers speak volumes about his form. In his last five outings, he has scored an unbeaten 74 against Australia, followed by scores of 135, 102 and 65 not out against South Africa, and now 93 versus New Zealand. These performances have played a major role in his surge back to the top of the rankings.

A record number of days at the summit
Kohli first attained the number one ranking in October 2013. The current achievement marks his 11th different spell at the top of the ODI rankings. In total, he has spent 825 days as the world’s top-ranked ODI batter, the most by any Indian and the 10th most overall in men’s cricket.

Other notable movements in the rankings
India’s ODI captain Shubman Gill has retained his fifth position, while Shreyas Iyer remains the other Indian batter inside the top 10. For New Zealand, all-rounder Daryl Mitchell moved up a spot after a blazing 84 off 71 balls and now sits just one rating point behind Kohli, who has 785 points. His teammate Devon Conway climbed three places to reach 29th position.

In the bowling rankings, India pacer Mohammed Siraj rose five spots to joint 15th alongside Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz. New Zealand fast bowler Kyle Jamieson enjoyed a massive leap, jumping 27 places to joint 69th after his career-best figures of 4 for 41, a position he shares with India’s Arshdeep Singh.

Conclusion
Virat Kohli’s return to the top of the ODI rankings is a testament to his enduring class, discipline, and hunger for runs. Even at 37, he continues to set benchmarks, inspire teammates, and dominate world cricket, reaffirming his status as one of the greatest batters the game has ever seen.