The battle for the top spot in International Cricket Council’s (ICC) One Day International latest (ODI) Rankings has heated up in recent weeks. Indian skipper Virat Kohli jumping to fourth position and Pakistani batsman Babar Azam retaining his number one spot. In this article, we take a closer look at what’s changed and what the rankings mean for each player.
Introduction to Latest ODI Rankings
The latest ODI rankings were released on Tuesday. Virat Kohli jumping up to fourth spot and Babar Azam retaining the top spot.
Kohli, who was in sixth spot in the previous rankings, has moved up two spots following his fine form in recent matches. The Indian captain scored a century in the third ODI against England last week. Which helped him gain 14 points and reach a career-high rating of 897 points.
Babar, meanwhile, has retained the top spot with 874 points. The Pakistan batsman had reached the summit of the rankings for the first time last month after scoring two centuries in the ODI series against Zimbabwe.
Also Read: Waqar Younis Declines Pakistan’s Offer For Bowling Coach Role
Overview of Kohli’s Jump and Babar’s Retention
- India captain Virat Kohli has jumped up to fourth place in the latest ICC ODI rankings. While Pakistan’s Babar Azam has retained his spot at the top.
- Kohli is now just four points behind third-ranked Australia captain Aaron Finch and 10 points adrift of second-ranked New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson.
- The Indian batting star has been in red-hot form recently, scoring three centuries in his last five ODIs.
- He also led India to a 2-1 series win over Australia with a match-winning knock of 85 not out in the deciding third ODI on Sunday.
- Babar, meanwhile, remains the world’s top ODI batsman after another impressive year in which he averaged over 50 in the format.
Also Read: PSL 2023: WHAT EXPERTS ARE SAYING
Reasons for the Change in Ranking
The latest ICC ODI rankings were released on Tuesday, with Virat Kohli climbing one spot to fourth and Babar Azam retaining his number one ranking. The change in ranking is due to the fact that India played more ODIs than any other team in the world in 2019, while Pakistan played only six.
Kohli, who was ranked fifth in the previous rankings, has moved up to fourth thanks to his strong performances in 2019. The Indian captain scored 1,377 runs in 26 ODIs last year at an average of 59.86. He also hit 11 centuries and seven half-centuries during that period.
Babar, meanwhile, has retained his top spot despite not playing as many ODIs as Kohli last year. The Pakistani batsman averaged 50.88 in eight ODIs in 2019, scoring two centuries and two half-centuries.
Also Read: TOP 9 MOST HANDSOME CRICKET PLAYERS IN THE WORLD
Analysis of Other Significant Changes in the Rankings
There have been a few notable changes in the latest ODI rankings. Virat Kohli climbing to fourth place and Babar Azam retaining his number one spot.
Kohli has been in excellent form of late, scoring three centuries in his last five ODIs. This has seen him move up two places in the rankings. He is now just behind third-placed Joe Root and second-placed Ross Taylor.
Babar, meanwhile, continues to lead the way at the top of the rankings following his recent run of good form. He is ahead of second-placed Kane Williamson and third-placed David Warner.
The other significant change in the rankings sees England’s Ben Stokes move up to sixth place after his match-winning century against India at Edgbaston. Stokes is now ahead of seventh-placed Quinton de Kock and eighth-placed Rohit Sharma.
Also Read: PSL Player Draft 2023-Team Rosters
Comparisons with Previous Rankings
The latest ODI rankings were released on September 3. Virat Kohli jumping up to fourth and Babar Azam retaining the top spot. There were some big changes in the rankings. England’s Jason Roy and Joe Root both moving up to second and third respectively.
Kohli’s India teammate Rohit Sharma also moved up, from seventh to fifth. While Australia’s David Warner fell from fourth to sixth.
There were some other notable changes further down the rankings. New Zealand’s Kane Williamson climbed from ninth to eighth, while South Africa’s Quinton de Kock dropped from eighth to tenth.
Some of the other big movers included Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan (up from 13th to 11th), Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews (up from 19th to 16th) and Pakistan’s Imam-ul-Haq (up from 34th to 28th).
Also Read: PSL SEASON 8 DRAFT DATE AND NEW PLAYERS LIST
Conclusion
The latest ODI rankings have seen some interesting changes, with Virat Kohli jumping up to fourth spot and Babar Azam retaining the number one spot. The new rankings show just how competitive international cricket is and that hard work pays off in the end. With so many talented players vying for spots in teams all over the world. It’s an exciting time for cricket fans who get to witness these amazing performances on a regular basis.
Thanks for reading: SPORTSMAGZINE
Also Read:
