Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Robin Uthappa has expressed confidence that Virat Kohli will soon reclaim the top rankings in both ODI and Test cricket. Uthappa believes it’s only a matter of time before Kohli rises to No. 1 in these formats.
Recently, the Indian team achieved a 3-0 T20I series win over Sri Lanka, though Kohli was absent as he had retired from T20Is after the 2024 World Cup. He was anticipated to miss the three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka but was included alongside Rohit Sharma.
The first ODI against Sri Lanka marks Kohli’s first game of the year. Last year, he was the second-highest run-scorer in ODIs, accumulating 1,377 runs in 27 matches, and earned Player of the Tournament honors during the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.
It’s Just Matter Of Time Virat Kohli Will Become No.1 – Robin Uthappa
Robin Uthappa said that Virat Kohli will regain the top spot in both ODI and Test rankings. Uthappa is confident that it’s only a matter of time before Kohli becomes the number-one batter in both formats globally.
“Do you think Virat Kohli will ever climb back to the first rank in the ODI and Test rankings?” a fan asked.
“I think Virat Kohli will climb and it’s just matter of time Virat Kohli will becomes No.1 ranked Test and ODI batter in the World,” Robin Uthappa said.
Virat Kohli and Robin Uthappa played together for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) during the 2009 and 2010 seasons. The Bengaluru-based team reached the final in 2009 and the semi-final in 2010. The duo also played together for the Indian national cricket team.
Virat Kohli’s Record Against Sri Lanka
Virat Kohli debuted internationally during India’s 2008 tour of Sri Lanka, making 12 runs off 22 balls in his first ODI in Dambulla. Since then, he has excelled against Sri Lanka, particularly in ODIs, where he is fifth on the all-time run-scorers list between the two nations. Kohli has amassed 2,594 runs from 53 matches, averaging 63.26 with a strike rate of 93.91, trailing Sachin Tendulkar by over 500 runs.
Kohli’s record extends to other formats as well. In 11 Tests against Sri Lanka, he has accumulated over 1,000 runs at an average of 67.81, including five centuries. His T20I stats are equally impressive, with 339 runs in eight matches, averaging 67.80 and striking at 138.36.
