Virat Kohli Reclaims ICC No. 1 ODI Ranking After Stellar Performance

Virat Kohli has made a triumphant return to the top of the ICC Men's ODI Rankings after scoring 93 runs in the first ODI against New Zealand. This achievement marks his first time at the No. 1 position since July 2021 and his 11th overall. Kohli's remarkable form has seen him score fifty-plus runs in his last seven ODIs, solidifying his status as one of the game's greats. With new records set and a stellar performance in 2025, Kohli continues to dominate the cricketing world. Discover more about his journey and achievements in this article.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 14, 2026, 14:52 IST

Kohli's Remarkable Comeback

Star Indian cricketer Virat Kohli has regained his position as the top player in the ICC Men's Rankings following his impressive 93 runs in the first ODI against New Zealand in Vadodara on Sunday. With this performance, Kohli now leads the ICC ODI Batters' rankings with 785 rating points, just ahead of New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell, who has 784 points.

A Historic Return to the Top

This marks the first occasion since July 2021 that Kohli has held the No. 1 ranking in ODIs. He first reached this pinnacle in October 2013, and this achievement signifies his 11th time at the top, according to the ICC's official records. Overall, he has spent 825 days as the top-ranked player, which is the highest for any Indian cricketer and the 10th highest overall.

Impressive Form

Kohli has demonstrated exceptional form since the last ODI series against Australia in October of the previous year. He has scored over fifty runs in each of his last seven ODIs, with his recent scores being: 93, 77 (Vijay Hazare Trophy), 131 (Vijay Hazare Trophy), 65, 102, 135, and 74.

Dominance in 2025

In 2025, Kohli played 13 ODIs, accumulating 651 runs at an impressive average of 65.10, making him India's top run-scorer for the year. He also excelled in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, scoring 218 runs in five matches with an average of 54.50, including one century and one half-century.

Match-Winning Performance and New Records

Kohli's 93 runs in the second ODI against New Zealand earned him the 'Player of the Match' title, leading India to victory while chasing a target of 301 runs. With this innings, he has now scored 1,091 runs in successful chases of over 300 runs in ODIs, boasting an average of 121.22 and a strike rate of 125.25, which includes seven centuries and two fifties.

Additionally, during this innings, Kohli became the fastest player to achieve 28,000 runs across all formats in international cricket, now ranking as the second-highest run-scorer behind Sachin Tendulkar, with a total of 28,068 runs across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.