Kohli took over the No 1 spot on the ICC ODI rankings with 785 rating points as of Jan. 14, which represents a return to a position he hadn’t held since 2021. It’s also somewhat of an irony given that Kohli was at least outside the Top 5 ODI Batsmen going into the 2025 Champions Trophy, and many were discussing his long-term prospects in ODI cricket using a tone that was reminiscent of those talking about vintage bats and fading memories.
The Sydney Reset Button
Each return requires an instant that will flip the internal switch. For Kohli, this came during the third ODI against Australia at Sydney (Oct. 2025) when he hit an unbeaten 50 while chasing with great pressure. He did not smash the bowlers; he negotiated them and absorbed their energy and released it as he wanted to. The 50 may not have been flashy; however, it was illustrative of how Kohli returned to manage chases much as a chess master would and not as someone who was trying out to be a big hitter after being somewhat irrelevant.
Consistency as the Loudest Statement
While there may be no perfect answer to prove it’s not just chance, Kohli’s greatest retort to all doubters was his 5th fifty-plus score after Australia in Sydney, and then he continued this trend of late acceleration, smart and aggressive strike rotation with low risk for another 4 successive scores. While today’s game has been consumed by a high strike rate, and Kohli’s resurgence as a batsman is based upon control rather than chaos, he is playing at his own pace and is not panicking, a quality that few players have in modern-day ODI cricket.
Why the Rankings Shift Makes Sense
Rankings don’t reward nostalgia; they reward sustained output. Kohli’s climb wasn’t sudden it was cumulative. His 785 rating edges past Rohit Sharma, who slips to No.3, with Daryl Mitchell slotting in at second. Rohit’s dip isn’t a collapse, far from it, but rankings are ruthless accountants. A few quieter games against South Africa and New Zealand were enough to tilt the scales.
The Rohit-Kohli Contrast Moment
Here’s the nuance often lost: Rohit Sharma is still in excellent touch. Player of the Series in Australia, a Vijay Hazare Trophy hundred for Mumbai, and a steady 26 in the New Zealand ODI, this isn’t a decline. It’s context. Kohli’s surge is sharper, more compact, and more aligned with ICC ranking algorithms that value recent, consecutive impact over episodic brilliance.
A Familiar Summit, New Circumstances
While Kohli’s return to the top may seem like a nostalgic victory tour, Kohli is actually an example of an elite batter who must either continue to evolve to remain elite or he will fade away. While other players are chasing after the next trend, Kohli is doubling down on the fundamentals of batting, which have been developed over his years of playing experience. Kohli’s resurgent form is as timely as it is ominously strategic for those opponents that he will be facing in the coming months, particularly as India prepares to head into a Champions Trophy cycle.
The real takeaway isn’t the ranking itself, it’s what powered it. This is Kohli embracing controlled aggression, selective risk, and situational awareness at a time when ODIs often resemble extended T20s. If this version sustains itself, India won’t just have a No.1 batter; they’ll have the tournament’s most reliable compass.
Key Takeaway
Virat Kohli didn’t reclaim No.1 by scoring faster; he did it by thinking slower.
FAQs
- What pushed Virat Kohli back to No.1 in ODIs?
Five consecutive 50+ scores since October 2025 and a match-winning 93 vs New Zealand.
- Why did Rohit Sharma drop in the rankings despite good form?
A few modest recent scores mattered more than past series awards in ICC calculations.
- How significant is this ranking for India ahead of the Champions Trophy?
It signals peak form and stability at No.3 arguably India’s most pressure-heavy batting slot.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.
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