Virat Kohli joins Rohit Sharma at the top of ICC ODI Rankings; BCCI sent clear message

In a massive development, the India National Cricket Team modern-day batting great, Virat Kohli, has jumped to the No.2 position in the ICC Men's ODI Batting Rankings.

The ICC updated its rankings on Wednesday, December 10, and it saw the batting stalwart Virat Kohli skyrocket in the ICC Men's ODI Batting Rankings.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli at the top two spots in the ICC Rankings

In the latest ICC Men's ODI Batting Rankings, the 38-year-old Rohit Sharma holds the No.1 spot, and he is followed by the 37-year-old Virat Kohli. Rohit has 781 rating points in his bag, while Kohli has 773 rating points.

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Kohli looked in unbelievable form in the recently concluded three-match ODI series against the South Africa National Cricket Team. He slammed 302 runs, with two centuries and one fifty, to bag the Player of the Series award.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma also had a decent series against the Proteas as he slammed 146 runs to hold onto the No.1 spot.

Meanwhile, KL Rahul also jumped two places to 12th overall, while his teammate Kuldeep Yadav also moved three spots to third in the ICC Men's ODI Bowling Rankings.

In the ICC Men's T20I Rankings, Indian bowlers have made significant gains. Axar Patel moved up two spots to 13th, Arshdeep Singh climbed up three places to 20th, and Jasprit Bumrah has moved to 25th.

Even though South Africa lost the ODI series against India, three of their players - Quinton de Kock (up three rungs to 13th), Aiden Markram (up four places to 25th), and Temba Bavuma (up three spots to 37th) - made gains on the rankings. In the T20I side of things, Dewald Brevis has moved into the top 10.

Mitchell Starc achieves career-high rating

Talking about the ICC Test Rankings, the modern-day pace-bowling great Mitchell Starc has achieved a career-high rating on the back of his heroics in the ongoing Ashes, where he has bagged 18 wickets.

Starc's teammate Steve Smith has also gained one spot to move to the third position in the ICC Men's Test Batting Rankings and is only behind Kane Williamson and Joe Root.

Another Test series between New Zealand and the West Indies saw a thriller pan out in Christchurch. Although the match ended in a draw, it helped Shai Hope (up 19 places to equal 48th) and Justin Greaves (up 16 rungs to 60th) make good gains.

What do they need to prove? - Ravichandran Ashwin

Recently, Ravichandran Ashwin said that people asking Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to prove themselves is a laughable thing, as they have already made legendary contributions to the side.

"The fact that Virat and Rohit have to prove is itself a laughable thing. What do they need to prove? In such long careers, we have all ups and downs, we all have good and bad times," Ashwin said, speaking on his own YouTube channel, as quoted by Hindustan Times.

"The fact that Rohit has worked on it (fitness) and come back, so props to him. The fact that Virat is batting as well as he is also shows the kind of work both of them have put in," he added.

"They don't have to prove anything to anyone. It is actually an example for all the next generation of players coming through, showing that you need to make sacrifices and demonstrate commitment to the game if you want to have such lengthy careers. The game is bigger than anyone else," Ashwin said.