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Russel Arnold, the former Sri Lankan cricketer, has forecasted that Virat Kohli is poised to ascend to the top position in the global rankings for both Tests and ODIs in the near future. Kohli is currently part of India’s squad for the ODI series against Sri Lanka.
He is participating in the first ODI of the series, marking his return to international cricket since the landmark T20 World Cup 2024 final over a month ago. Initially slated for rest during this series, Kohli’s inclusion was prompted by the new head coach Gautam Gambhir, who requested a full-strength ODI team due to the limited number of ODIs before the Champions Trophy next year.
Russel Arnold makes a huge prediction for Virat Kohli
Prior to the opening ODI between Sri Lanka and India, Russel Arnold predicted that Virat Kohli is on the verge of becoming the top-ranked batsman in both Tests and ODIs. The esteemed commentator also praised Kohli for his unwavering dedication and commitment to the sport.
“Virat Kohli’s passion, dedication and commitment is just second to none. He is just phenomenal. Yes, I think it’s just a matter of time that Virat Kohli will become the No.1 ranked Batter in the World in ODIs & Tests,” Russel Arnold was quoted as saying by Sony Sports Network.
Virat Kohli is expected to take his customary No. 3 position in the batting lineup for the match against Sri Lanka. His most recent ODI appearance was in the World Cup 2023 final against Australia, where India faced a disappointing defeat. Since then, he has exclusively played in Test matches or T20Is.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma return to the Indian team after a month-long break.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are both making their return to the team following the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa in Barbados. Rohit Sharma, who is also leading the ODI side, last played an ODI in the World Cup 2023 final against Australia.
After India’s triumph in the T20 World Cup 2024, both Kohli and Sharma announced their retirements from the T20I format to focus on Tests and ODIs. This shift is aimed at bolstering India’s preparations for the Champions Trophy and the World Test Championship final next year.
While Kohli had a challenging T20 World Cup 2024, he played a pivotal role in the final with a valuable 77 off 59 balls. Rohit Sharma, on the other hand, had a stellar tournament, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer overall and leading India’s run charts.
Kohli’s record across formats is impressive, but his ODI statistics are particularly notable. The 35-year-old has accumulated 13,848 runs in 292 ODIs, boasting an average of 58.67 and a strike rate of 93.58. He has also achieved 50 centuries and 72 fifties in the format.
