India’s Virat Kohli plays a shot during the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between India and Pakistan at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, United Arab Emirates. (AP)
Indian cricketer Virat Kohli rose to number 4 spot in the ICC ODI rankings for batters after his match-winning knock against Australia in the semi-final of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai on Sunday. Thanks to Kohli’s knock, India defeated Australia by four wickets to enter the final of the event where they will await the winner of the second semi-final between South Africa and New Zealand.
While Kohli rose one rank in the ODI batting charts, India captain Rohit Sharma fell two spots to No 5. Sharma has focussed on giving India blistering starts in the Champions Trophy. Kohli has scored 217 runs in four matches at the Champions Trophy is is also No 4 in the top run-scorers at the tournament. Sharma is 25th in the top run-scorers list with 104 runs in four games. His highest score at the event is 41.
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Meanwhile, India vice-captain Shubman Gill stays on top of the ICC ODI run-scorers list, followed by Pakistan’s Babar Azam at second.
Meanwhile, Axar Patel rose to No 13 in the all-rounders’ list in ODIs with a career-high 194 rating points in the latest release. India’s pace spearhead Mohammed Shami also rose in the rankings for bowlers by three positions to reach 11th with 609 rating points. With eight wickets so far in the Champions Trophy, Shami moved up New Zealand’s Matt Henry (649) and claimed the third spot after moving up three positions among bowlers behind Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana at the top spot and South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj at second.
Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai has replaced compatriot Mohammad Nabi at the top of the all-rounders rankings.