Kohli, Rohit consolidate top batting positions in ICC ODI Rankings

Dubai:India captain Virat Kohli and vice-captain Rohit Sharma strengthened their top two positions in the batting chart, while pacer Jasprit Bumrah continued to lead in the bowling chart in the latest ICC ODI Rankings issued on Monday.  

Kohli and Sharma gained two and three ratings points, respectively, after starring in a 2-1 win in the three-match home series against Australia, which helped India retain their second position in the ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings led by World champions England. Kohli retained No 1 position with 886 points after his Player of the Series effort of 183 runs while Sharma's 171 runs, which included a match-winning 119 in the final ODI in Bengaluru, took him to 868 points and strengthened his No 2 position. 

Pakistan's Babar Azam is in third position with 829 points, ICC said in a statement. Meanwhile, opener Shikhar Dhawan has gained seven slots to reach 15th position with 170 runs in two innings, missing a chance to bat in Bengaluru after injuring his shoulder while fielding. 

Lokesh Rahul, who opened in his place in the final ODI, has gained 21 slots to reach 50th position with an aggregate of 146 runs.Bumrah is atop the bowlers chart with 764 points, ahead of New Zealand left-arm pacer Trent Boult and Afghanistan's Mujeeb Ur Rahman. South Africa's Kagiso Rabada and Australian Pat Cummins  are the other ones in the the top five. 

India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has moved up two slots to 27th among bowlers after finishing with four wickets in the series. He also scored 45 runs in two innings and has gained four places in the all-rounders' list to be ranked 10th.

Steve Smith, who topped the series with an aggregate of 229 runs including a knock of 131 in the final ODI was rewarded with a four-place jump to 23rd position. David Warner, a formerly top-ranked batsman in the format, has moved up one place to sixth while captain Aaron Finch has moved up one place into 10th. Wicketkeeper Alex Carey is in 31st position after gaining two slots.Leg-spinner Adam Zampa's five wickets in the series see him advance 20 places to reach 37th position while Kane Richardson moved from 77th to 65th.(UNI)