Daryl Mitchell Tops ICC ODI Rankings, Surpasses Kohli

In a remarkable shift in the ICC ODI rankings, New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell has claimed the top spot, pushing Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli to second place. This change comes on the heels of an exceptional performance by Mitchell during the ODI series against India, where he scored a staggering 352 runs in just three matches, including two centuries and one fifty.

Mitchell's achievement is not just personal; it marks a historic moment for New Zealand cricket. With this series win, New Zealand secured their first-ever ODI series victory on Indian soil, ending a 37-year wait. His score of 352 is the highest ever by a New Zealand player in a three-match ODI series and ranks third overall in ODI history.

The ICC confirmed that Mitchell now leads with 845 ranking points, while Kohli trails with 795 points. This shift signifies the intense competition among the top players, especially with other notable batters like Ibrahim Zadran, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Babar Azam closely following the leaders.

This is not the first time Mitchell has reached the No.1 ranking; he briefly held the position last November but was overtaken quickly. Interestingly, in his ODI career spanning 54 innings, Mitchell has never recorded a duck, which is an impressive feat, placing him second in the all-time streak behind Kepler Wessels.

Despite Kohli's commendable performance in this series, scoring 240 runs including a century, it wasn't enough to secure victory in the deciding match. Rohit Sharma, another key player, struggled throughout the series, managing only 61 runs. This performance has raised some concerns ahead of India's upcoming matches.

Looking ahead, India is set to play five T20Is against New Zealand, which will serve as crucial preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup next month. The Indian team will be eager to bounce back and reclaim their top positions in the rankings while showcasing their talent on the field.