Virat Kohli, KL Rahul gain places in ICC ODI batting rankings after match-winning knocks in India’s World Cup opener

Kohli and Rahul slammed fifties on a tricky pitch at Chepauk against Australia.

By Salman Anjum - 11 Oct, 2023

Virat Kohli, Quinton de Kock and Dawid Malan have made significant gains inside the top 10 of the ICC Men’s ODI Rankings for batters.

The first eight matches of the ongoing World Cup in India saw 10 centuries being hit. As a result, the top end of the batting rankings has been shaken up.

De Kock’s swashbuckling ton against Sri Lanka in Delhi has lifted the South African opener one spot higher to sixth in the batting rankings.

Kohli played a match-winning knock of 85 in India’s World Cup 2023 opener against Australia at Chepauk. Consequently, the Indian star moved up two places to attain the seventh spot.

England opener Malan made an even bigger move as he gained seven spots to reach eighth position in the batting rankings after his whirlwind 140 against Bangladesh in Dharamsala.

Malan has also achieved a career-best rating of 711 to be four points behind Kohli, and six points ahead of Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq who has slipped three spots to ninth.

India’s KL Rahul (up 15 spots to 19th) and South Africa’s Aiden Markram (up 11 spots to 21st) have also made giant strides after playing knocks of 97 and 106 against Australia and Sri Lanka, respectively.

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam held onto the top spot in the ODI batting rankings despite registering scores of 5 and 10 against Sri Lanka and Netherlands in the showpiece tournament so far.

India opener Shubman Gill continues to occupy the second position even while sidelined due to illness.

The quality bowlers have also made an impact at the Cricket World Cup even though mammoth scores have been racked up in most games.

Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood now holds top spot individually in the ICC Men’s ODI Bowling Rankings after sharing the position with India’s Mohammed Siraj previously.

Hazlewood leapt from 669 to 682 rating points after returning with impressive figures of 3/38 against India in Chennai. On the other hand, Siraj claimed Australia's last wicket of Mitchell Starc to finish with 1/26 from 6.3 overs but dropped five points and into second spot in the bowling rankings.

India wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav has advanced three places to eighth after taking 2/42 against Australia. New Zealand quicks Trent Boult (up two spots to third) and Matt Henry (up four spots to five) have also risen inside the top-10.

Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan holds onto the top spot in the ICC Men’s ODI All-rounder Rankings after taking four wickets in their first two World Cup fixtures against Afghanistan and England.

(With ICC Inputs)

By Salman Anjum - 11 Oct, 2023

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