ICC Rankings: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma maintain top two spots, Bumrah 2nd among bowlers

India captain Virat Kohli and vice-captain Rohit Sharma continue to occupy the top two batting spots in the ICC ODI rankings while pacer Jasprit Bumrah stayed put in second place among bowlers in the latest list issued on Tuesday. With 871 rating points, Kohli is at the top followed by Rohit (855) and Pakistan’s Babar Azam (829).

In the bowlers list, Bumrah (719) is behind New Zealand pacer Trent Boult (722), while Afghanistan’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman (701) occupies the third spot. Ravindra Jadeja is the lone Indian to feature in the top 10 all-rounders rankings at the eight spot. Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi is leading pack in this category, closely followed by England all-rounder Ben Stokes.

Meanwhile, England’s Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow will be in focus from the rankings’ perspective as the reigning World Cup champions kick off the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League with their three-match home series against Ireland on Thursday.

Opener Roy and wicketkeeper-batsman Bairstow, who are currently ranked 11th and 14th, respectively, in the ICC ODI player rankings for batsman, could work their way back into the top 10, having both enjoyed personal best rankings of ninth position in the past. Roy was in ninth place in July last year and Bairstow in October 2018.

World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan, who is the third best-ranked batsman from his side in 23rd position, will be leading against a side for whom he scored 99 on ODI debut against Scotland 14 years ago.

With none of the England players featuring in their Test series against the West Indies named for the ODIs, England will be missing their premier fast bowlers and will be led by spin twins Adil Rashid (29th) and vice-captain Moeen Ali (44th). For Ireland, skipper Andy Balbirnie, who took over from long-time skipper William Porterfield last November and has only led in a three-ODI series in the Caribbean in January, is ranked 46th among batsmen.

Paul Stirling remains their top-ranked batsman in 27th position, having held a career-high position of seventh in 2013. Off-spinner Andy McBrine (31st) and paceman Boyd Rankin (joint-40th) are their leading bowlers according to the rankings.

The England-Ireland series marks the start of the much-awaited Super League that will see 13 teams vie for direct qualifying places in the next ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India in 2023.

India and seven other teams will make it directly from the league with the remaining teams getting a second chance through a qualifier. Teams will be awarded 10 points for a win, five for a tie, no-result or abandoned match and none for a loss.