Kohli reclaims No.1 ODI ranking

Tuesday, 11 March 2014 01:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

India hang on to second spot, Asian champions SL finish third

ESPNCricinfo: Virat Kohli has climbed past AB de Villiers to the top of the ICC ODI rankings for batsmen. Kohli achieved a career-best rating of 886 points after his century against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup. However, a subdued showing thereafter against Pakistan and Sri Lanka resulted in five points being shaved off, though he is still nine points ahead of de Villiers.

Kohli was last at the summit before the ODI series against New Zealand in January and had come into the Asia Cup two points behind de Villiers. In the past 12 months, Kohli amassed 1580 runs at 60.76 in 31 innings with six centuries, four of which were away from home and three of which were as captain. In the same period, de Villiers scored 1156 at 52.54 in 25 innings with three centuries. The other Indians in the top ten are MS Dhoni at sixth and Shikhar Dhawan at eighth places. Lahiru Thirimanne, who struck two centuries in the Asia Cup including a match-winning 101 in the final, jumped 29 places to his best spot at 39th. Lasith Malinga ended as the joint-highest wicket-taker in the Asia Cup, which helped him leapfrog 11 places into 22nd position in the bowlers’ rankings. Asian champions Sri Lanka are still ranked third with 112 points, one point below India, in the ODI team rankings. Australia claimed the top spot with 117 points.