Virat Kohli, aged 37, stands atop the ICC ODI Rankings once more. It’s his 11th time hitting the No. 1 position, a return after nearly five years. The ICC confirmed his comeback on January 14, 2026. He did this after a brilliant game against New Zealand in Vadodara. Teammate Rohit Sharma dropped down, making room for Kohli’s ascent.
This isn’t just a number change. It’s a story of persistence. Kohli’s recent form paved the way. He battled back from tough times.
The Vadodara Masterclass
Kohli’s push to the top came from his 93 runs off 91 balls. That was in the first ODI versus New Zealand. The innings helped India chase down a 300-run target. They won by four wickets. He earned Player-of-the-Match for it. The performance sealed his spot at the top of ODI batting.
He just kept hitting boundaries. It was a proper match-winning effort. Everyone saw the determination in that innings.
A Tight Race at the Summit
Kohli now has 785 rating points. He gained 12 points. Rohit Sharma, who was number one, lost six points and sits at 775. New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell also shot up. He scored 84 off 71 in the same match. Mitchell holds second place with 784 points. That’s just one point behind Kohli. Rohit Sharma now sits third.
The rankings are close. It shows how competitive ODI batting is right now. Every game matters a lot for these top players.
The Comeback King’s Journey
This return marks a long journey for Kohli. He last held the No. 1 spot in July 2021. The years between weren’t always easy. He had challenges. He even faced consecutive ducks against Australia in October 2025 after some time away from international cricket, according to Indian Express. His form turned around sharply after that.
He hit 74 not out against Australia in October 2025. Then came scores of 135, 102, and 65 not out versus South Africa in late 2025. In his last five ODIs, Kohli has 469 runs. He averages 156.33, with two centuries and three fifties. That 93 in Vadodara also matched an Indian record for successive fifty-plus scores. He’s done that five times now, joining legends like Sachin Tendulkar.
And then there’s his record against New Zealand. During the second ODI, Kohli passed Sachin Tendulkar for most runs against New Zealand by an Indian. NDTV Sports reported he did it with a boundary off his first ball. Globally, only Ricky Ponting has more runs against New Zealand.
Kohli’s career stats are stacking up. He’s spent 825 days at No. 1, most for any Indian batter. He’s tenth on the all-time list, chasing Vivian Richards’ 2,306 days. He’s 37 now, but still at his peak.
KL Rahul moved up to 11th in the batting rankings. Salman Mirza, a left-arm seamer, jumped 16 spots to 19th in bowling. The Indian team is performing well. But Kohli’s return is the big headline. It shows he can keep performing at the top level. The race for No. 1 will be fun to watch as the series continues.
Soureesh Datta 
Ishaan Singh