India’s star batter Shubman Gill retained the top spot in the latest update of the ICC rankings for men’s ODI batters. In addition, Afghanistan’s rising all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai rose to the top of the all-rounder’s rankings after his phenomenal display at the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Star batter Virat Kohli once again displayed why he is rated so highly in white-ball cricket, more so in big-ticket tournaments, and as the master of run-chases, with his gritty half century helping India beat Australia by four wickets in the high-pressure semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai on Tuesday.
Riding on Virat Kohli's 84, KL Rahul (42 not out) and Hardik Pandya (28 off 24 balls) gave the finishing touches to India's chase of 265 to progress to the final of the eight-team competition.
With the Indian top order of Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer firing on all cylinders heading into their semifinal clash against Australia on Tuesday, Aussie skipper Steve Smith hailed his opponent batters’ ability to change gears.
Come Sunday, Virat Kohli will be playing his 300th One-day International match when India take on New Zealand in their final Group A match of the 2025 Champions Trophy at the Dubai International Stadium here on Saturday.
Shouts pierced the air everywhere, but the Indian calm was cloistral, even if its board president was a former national captain.
Suryakumar Yadav's stylish 68 not out and Kohli's unbeaten 59, helped India secure a spot in to the Super Four round of Asia Cup 2022 after defeating Hong Kong by 40 runs here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Following India's five-wicket victory against Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium, Virat can be seen chatting with the 28-year-old right-arm fast bowler before the charismatic cricketer signs and presents the bowler with the jersey.
But cricketing minutae, technical nittygritty and expertspeak have often been outweighed by psychological factors when India meet Pakistan.
"Kohli is a legend. We wish him his best, though he is performing very well but not as per his standard. I wish to see his century but not against us. He is a threat to us when he is on the pitch."
