Kohli rises above 900 points, sets new record

India skipper Virat Kohli ticked another milestone in the recently concluded ODI series against South Africa. The right-handed maverick batsman became the first Indian to move above 900 points in the ICC rankings — the seventh highest in the history of ODI cricket.

His rating, 909, is the highest by any cricketer since Dean Jones (Australia) in 1991.

Kohli scored 558 runs, including three centuries, in the six-match series — which India won 5-1 — and was dismissed only thrice.

Before the start of the series, Kohli ranked 876, the 18th highest of all time and the Indian overtook AB de Villiers (844) to emerge at the top of the current rankings.

Barely two months ago, Australia skipper Steve Smith earned the second-highest Test rating, next to Sir Donald Bradman. After scoring 76 and an unbeaten 102 in the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Smith moved to 947 points — 14 behind the legendary Bradman.

Highest ODI batting ratings

1) Vic Richards (WI) - 935 in 1985

2) Zaheer Abbas (Pak) - 931 in 1983

3) Grag Chappell (Aus) - 921 in 1981

4) David Gower (Eng) - 919 in 1983

5) Dean Jones (Aus) - 918 in 1991

6) Javed Miandad (Pak) - 910 in 1987

7) Virat Kohli (Ind) - 909 in 2018

8) Brian Lara (WI) - 908 in 1993

9) AB de Villiers (SA) - 902 in 2015

10) Hashim Amla (SA) - 901 in 2012