Virat Kohli’s World No. 1 Reign Ends After Seven Days as Daryl Mitchell’s Heroics Power Ranking Surge
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| AP |
Virat Kohli’s return to the top of the ICC Men’s ODI batting rankings proved to be short-lived. After reclaiming the No. 1 spot following a fine knock against New Zealand, Kohli held the position for just seven days before being overtaken by New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell, whose outstanding performances in India powered him to the summit.
How Kohli Lost the Top Spot
Kohli’s rise back to No. 1 came on the back of a fluent 93 off 91 balls in the opening ODI of the three-match series on January 11. It marked his first return to the top of the ODI rankings in four years and was widely seen as a reward for his consistency in the format.
However, New Zealand’s historic series win in India dramatically altered the rankings. Despite Kohli’s valiant 124 off 108 balls in the series decider at Indore, his efforts were eclipsed by Mitchell’s commanding 137, which sealed the Black Caps’ first-ever bilateral ODI series victory in India.
Daryl Mitchell’s Ranking Surge
Mitchell enjoyed a sensational series, scoring 352 runs across three innings to win the Player of the Series award. His tally is the highest ever by a New Zealand batter in a three-match ODI series and the third-highest overall in bilateral ODI history.
After a fighting 84 in the first ODI, Mitchell struck an unbeaten 131 in the second game to level the series before producing another century in the decider. Back-to-back Player of the Match awards underlined his dominance.
Mitchell now tops the ICC ODI batting rankings with 845 points, 50 clear of Virat Kohli, who has slipped to second with 795 points.
What the Rankings Look Like Now
The top two are well clear of the rest, with Ibrahim Zadran, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Babar Azam forming the chasing pack. This is the second time Mitchell has reached No. 1, having briefly held the position last year.
Our Thoughts
Kohli’s brief return to the summit shows how tight the competition at the top of ODI cricket has become. Mitchell’s rise, powered by performances on Indian soil, reflects a growing shift in world cricket where away-series dominance carries immense weight. For Kohli, the challenge now is consistency at the top, while Mitchell’s surge signals New Zealand’s growing batting strength in the 50-over format.
