ICC ODI rankings: Kohli, Rohit retain top two spots; Bumrah sits on 3rd position after Australia series

KEY STORY

• Indian skipper Virat Kohli continued his dominant run in the newly released One Day International (ODI) batting rankings by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday.

• Widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the modern era of the gentlemen’s game across all formats, Kohli has once again consolidated his No.1 spot in the latest ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings.

• The Indian skipper had a fruitful run with the willow in the recently concluded ODI series between India and hosts Australia.

• The Indian skipper notched up two gritty half-centuries in the three-match ODI series which India ended up losing with a 2-1 margin. While run-machine Kohli cemented his spot at the top of the ODI batting rankings, his deputy Rohit Sharma, who was rested for the twin limited-overs series between the two cricketing superpowers managed to retain the second spot.

• Kohli scored 89 and 63 in the last two ODIs to take his ICC batting points tally to 870 points. Recovering from a hamstring injury ahead of the high-profile Test series between India and Australia, Rohit retained his second spot with 842 points.

• The Indian opener across all formats is followed by Pakistan skipper Babar Azam. The premier Pakistani batsman is third with 837 points.

• Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who recorded a series of forgetful spells against Australia in the ODIs has secured the third spot in the ICC Men’s Bowlers Rankings.

• While Indian bowlers were sent on a leather hunt by Australian batsman Aaron Finch, Steve Smith, David Warner, and Glenn Maxwell, Aussie bowlers Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood made significant gains in the bowlers’ rankings following their superlative efforts in the three-match ODI series.

• Hazlewood has climbed to the sixth spot after taking six wickets in the ODI series between Australia and India.