India vs Australia: Virat Kohli jumps in ICC rankings following the semi-final blitz

Before India began their ICC Champions Trophy campaign, concerns over the form of Virat Kohli were the most talked-about aspect of the squad. Under scrutiny throughout the Border Gavaskar Trophy, Kohli played two ODIs against England as a prelude to the marquee event. While the batter managed a half-century in the last India vs. England ODI, doubts remained about whether his regained form would carry forward to Dubai. However, four matches into the Champions Trophy, Kohli has emerged as one of the key elements behind India’s campaign, which has now secured a place in the final.

Virat Kohli climbs up to the fourth spot in the ICC ODI batting rankings

India's campaign opener against Bangladesh was headlined by the century of vice captain, Shubman Gill. However, as the much-awaited India vs Pakistan rivalry arrived, so did the King, Virat Kohli.  Seizing the high-stakes ICC fixture against their arch-rivals as the perfect stage, Kohli notched his 82nd international ton. India won the match by six wickets, securing a semi-final spot. While the match against New Zealand was played on a low and slow surface, Kohli reaffirmed his status as the most reliable batter in the semi-final against Australia.

India overcame Australia by four wickets in the first semi-final at the Dubai International Stadium, sealing their place in the tournament’s final. As Rohit Sharma lost his 14th consecutive toss, Steve Smith opted to bat first at the slow Dubai turf. India's spinners made the first innings tough for the Kangaroos as the 2023 World Cup winners managed a 264-run total, fueled by a gritty 73-run knock by skipper Steve Smith. The chase, meanwhile, didn't fare as seamless as India would have wanted. Shubman Gill departed without imposing any impact as Ben Dwarshuis struck the timber at just 8 off 11. Moreover, after surviving two catch drops, Rohit Sharma found his falling against all-rounder Cooper Connolly at 28 off 29. However, Virat Kohli had understood his calling by then as he settled in, knitting resilient partnerships with Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel.

Kohli's knock, which came to an abrubt end as Kohli tried for a sixer, was the defining factor in the chase. With this victory, India advanced to the final, where they will take on either New Zealand or South Africa. Kohli’s match-winning performance against Australia earned him a well-deserved rise in the rankings, as per the ICC’s latest update on Wednesday. The batting maestro leapfrogged India skipper Rohit Sharma to claim the fourth position. While Shubman Gill continued to hold the top spot with 791 rating points, Kohli is not far behind, trailing by just 43 points.

Other updates in the rankings saw South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen climbing to the third place with 760 rating points. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Babar Azam remained steady in second with 770 points. Another notable shift came for Shreyas Iyer, whose composed 45 off 62 deliveries against Australia, including an 89-run third-wicket partnership with Kohli, helped him move up one place to eighth. Iyer has been India's second-highest run-getter in the tournament, amassing 195 runs in four innings, just behind Kohli’s 217.

In another update, Azmatullah Omarzai soared to new heights following his standout performances, which featured a maiden five-wicket haul against England and a crucial half-century against Australia. His exploits propelled him to the top of the all-rounder rankings, surpassing teammate Mohammad Nabi, who slipped to second. Omarzai climbed two spots to claim the No.1 ranking with a career-best 296 rating points.