25 October,2023 07:39 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Virat Kohli (Pic: AFP)
Indian batting mainstay Virat Kohli has moved to sixth place in the ODI players rankings after two masterclass innings against Bangladesh and New Zealand in the ICC World Cup 2023.
Virat was placed at number nine with 711 rating points on October 18 and the very next day he smashed his 48th ODI ton, an unbeaten 103' against Bangladesh, climbing to number six with 729 rating points.
The match between India and New Zealand on Sunday saw Men in Blue breaking their 20-year-old losing streak to Kiwis in ICC tournaments. Virat was the backbone of India's innings scoring 95 in 104 balls chasing a target of 274 runs. He missed on his 49th century while attempting a six and was caught by Glenn Phillips.
The knock led to Virat climbing to number four spot on Monday with 747 rating points. But that day, South African batter Quinton de Kock registered his third century of the tournament, smashing 174 in 140 balls against Bangladesh with 15 fours and seven sixes.
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That knock made de Kock climb to third place with 769 rating points. Heinrich Klaasen, another Proteas star who scored a century then 90 against Bangladesh, moved to fourth spot with 756 rating points.
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Australian opener David Warner, who scored a 163 against Pakistan last Friday, moved to fifth spot with 747 rating points.
Kohli is at sixth spot with 747 rating points.
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam's lead at the head of the ODI Batting Rankings has been reduced to just six rating points as India's Shubman Gill and a host of other stars close in.
Babar has dropped to 829 rating points from 836. He has scored 157 runs in five innings in the World Cup and his most recent effort saw him score a fighting 74 against Afghanistan in Chennai.
Gill has scored 95 runs from three matches for India, with the right-hander improving to 823 rating points on the back of his knock of 53 against Bangladesh in Pune.
(With inputs from agencies)
