Dubai, Feb 1 (IANS) Star batsman Virat Kohli on Tuesday claimed the top spot in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) latest T20 batting rankings after his stupendous form helped India thrash Australia 3-0 in a three-match series.
Kohli hit scores of 90 not out, 59 not out and 50 in the series to gain 47 ratings points and move ahead of Australia’s Aaron Finch.
Finch gained 14 points himself thanks to scores of 44 and 74 in Adelaide and Melbourne, but his hamstring injury in game two ruled him out of the final match of the series at the SCG on Sunday.
Kohli now has 892 points while Finch has 868. England’s Alex Hales is third with 795 points.
India’s Suresh Raina moved up three places to 13th, while opener Rohit Sharma also moved up four places to 16th, after their impressive form in the series. Yuvraj Singh claimed the 20th position.
Australian all-rounder Shane Watson, who scored an unbeaten 124 in the third T20 against India, moved up five places to 12th.
Australia’s left-handed opener David Warner dropped six spots to 18th.
West Indies spinner Sunil Narine, who is currently banned by the ICC due to an illegal bowling action, retained top spot in the bowling rankings with 773 points, ahead of fellow Windies slow bowler Samuel Badree (751).
India’s off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was third with 692 points. Left-armer spinner Ravindra Jadeja was 18th.
India’s 3-0 victory helped them reach the No.1 spot in the world, while Australia slid to the eighth spot.