THIS star batter dethrones Virat Kohli from No.1 spot, name is…, Rohit Sharma is at…

ICC ODI Rankings: Virat Kohli’s return to the top of the ICC ODI rankings has been short-lived. Following India’s 1-2 series defeat against New Zealand at home, the Indian batting great has been dethroned, with Kiwi star Daryl Mitchell climbing to the No.1 spot in the latest ICC update.

Mitchell’s rise comes on the back of a sensational series in India, one that will be remembered as New Zealand’s first ODI series win on Indian soil in 37 years. The right-hander was simply unstoppable throughout the three-match contest and deservedly walked away with the Player of the Series award.

Mitchell’s dream run in India

Mitchell finished the series as the highest run-scorer, piling up a staggering 352 runs in just three innings. What made his performance even more special was the consistency and control, he averaged an astonishing 176, smashing two centuries and one half-century.

He had been breathing down Kohli’s neck in the rankings even before the series began, trailing by just one rating point. Those big knocks were enough to push him past the Indian icon and take his career to new heights.

Mitchell now sits comfortably at the top with 845 rating points, while Kohli has slipped to second with 795 points.

Kohli and Rohit slide after tough series

Kohli had reclaimed the No.1 ranking only last week after a string of strong ODI performances. However, the lack of match-defining scores in the New Zealand series proved costly.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma also endured a dip in the rankings. The Indian captain struggled to convert starts, managing just 61 runs across three innings, which saw him drop to fourth place.

ICC ODI Rankings: A snapshot of the top batters

India still boasts strong representation in the top 15, with Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer all featuring prominently. Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran continues his impressive rise at No.3, while Babar Azam remains in the mix at No.6.

Here’s how the current ICC ODI batting rankings stand: