New Delhi, December 10 2025 — The battle to be the best player within the International Cricket Council’s One Day International (ODI) rankings for batsmen has increased as Virat Kohli launching a major fight to Rohit Sharma’s position at No. 1. After a great series against South Africa, Kohli has increased his position to second place — just eight points less than his teammates.
Kohli 37, who hasn’t held the ODI number. one spot since the month of April 2021 which was the time his previous position was occupied by current legends. However, his performance in recent times has seen him close to regaining the spot. In the recently concluded three-match series with South Africa, he amassed the total of 302 runs, including an unbeaten match-winning 65 in the final match of the series in Visakhapatnam — which earned his the Player of the Series honours and a rise by two spots in the ranking.
In the meantime, Rohit, who remains at the top of the pile, hit 146 runs in the same game enough to keep his lead at present.
The standings remain tense as is the fact that with India scheduled to take on New Zealand in a three-match ODI series that will begin on the 11th of January, 2026, the setting is in place for an exciting battle for the highest ranking.
Outside of the top two, other Indian players have also seen upward momentum. KL Rahul rose two places to 12th place among ODI batters, and Kuldeep Yadav moved up three spots to finish third among the ODI bowling rankings, which is a sign of India’s increasing strength across different disciplines.
The ongoing tension among Kohli as well as Rohit — two of the important players in Indian cricket — demonstrates their dedication and thirst to be the best even as they are in the latter phases of their illustrious careers. The cricket fans around the world are paying attention to the game: will Rohit be able to defend his title, or will Kohli be able to regain his position?
Current Top ODI Batting Rankings (as per December 10, 2025 update)
| Sort | Player | Country | Series The Series (latest) | Notes / Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rohit Sharma | India | 146 | Remains with No. 1 Solid Series in comparison to SA |
| 2 | Virat Kohli | India | 302 | He jumped two places. the series’ Player of the Year; just 8 points less than Rohit |
| 3 | Daryl Mitchell | New Zealand | — | Held at third position after being pushed back by Kohli’s rise |
| 4 | Ibrahim Zadran | Afghanistan | — | Retains fourth spot per latest update |
| 5 | Shubman Gill | India | — | Top 5 remains despite not having a recent games |
Note the “Series runs” column is a reference to the runs that players scored during the latest pertinent ODI series (India against South Africa).
What does this mean to what it means for Battle for No. 1
- Tempo with Kohli: Virat Kohli’s incredible form — which was which culminated with 302 runs and an award for player of the Series award -has drastically reduced the gap. If he keeps this pace through the upcoming series his place at the top is within the reach of.
- Rohit’s Steady Hold Rohit’s consistency and his ability to score decent runs in the face of pressure has helped him hold on to the top of the table, however, the margin isn’t huge. If he slips, it could be a doorway for Kohli.
- The sign of Indian Depth: Other Indian players such as KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav increasing their bowling and batting charts show the country’s increasing all-round strength.
- Fans’ Expectations: With a high-stakes game in New Zealand on the horizon The exchange between the top. 1 spot could be happening and add a zing to the already intense rivalry.