Virat Kohli closes in on top-spot in ICC ODI rankings, Rohit Sharma follows
Indian cricket star Virat Kohli has made significant progress in his quest to reclaim the top spot in the ICC ODI Player Rankings. Kohli, who delivered an outstanding performance in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, scoring 765 runs, has moved up one place to third in the latest rankings.
With just 35 rating points separating him from teammate Shubman Gill, who holds the top position with 826 rating points, Kohli is closing in on the top spot.
Despite Gill's narrow lead, Pakistan captain Babar Azam remains in second place with 824 rating points. Kohli's rise has pushed South Africa's Quinton de Kock down to fifth place, while India's captain Rohit Sharma has moved up one spot to fourth with 769 rating points. Kohli and Rohit Sharma emerged as the leading run-scorers in the World Cup, with Kohli breaking the record for the most ODI centuries.
During the World Cup, Kohli reached triple figures on three occasions, securing 791 rating points in the process. Gill and Babar, with 826 and 824 rating points respectively, are still at the top, but Kohli and Rohit are within striking distance following their stellar performances in the tournament.
Kohli held the No.1 ranking for an impressive 1258 consecutive days between 2017 and 2021. Babar had been in the top position in recent years until Gill claimed the spot during the World Cup. The rise of Kohli and Rohit has added excitement to the ODI batter rankings.
Australia's Travis Head has made a significant leap in the rankings, climbing 28 places to 15th after his brilliant century in the World Cup final. South Africa's Quinton de Kock drops to fifth, while New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell rises to sixth after scoring 552 runs in the tournament.
In the ODI bowler rankings, South Africa's Keshav Maharaj maintains his position at the top. Australia's Josh Hazlewood has risen four places to second, and Mitchell Starc has jumped eight spots to 12th. Pat Cummins, the Australian captain, has improved seven places to 27th. Indian bowlers Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah remain in the top 10. Kuldeep Yadav has dropped one spot to equal sixth.
In the ODI rankings for all-rounders, Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan continues to lead comfortably. New Zealand's Mitchell Santner drops to seventh, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz of Bangladesh rises to ninth.
Virat Kohli has made a push to dethrone his compatriot as the No.1 ODI batter 👀
— ICC (@ICC) November 22, 2023
The latest changes in the @MRFWorldwide ICC Men's Player Rankings following the conclusion of #CWC23 👇https://t.co/RYJbtXlMD2
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T'gana RTC strike: Talks between govt, employees successful
Hyderabad (PTI): Talks between employees of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (RTC) who were on strike and the state government concluded successfully on Friday as the government agreed to the key demands of the workmen.
Following a day-long marathon of talks between the leaders of the employees' Joint Action Committee (JAC) and the cabinet sub-committee, the government announced after midnight that it acceded to the demands, including a merger of RTC with the government, 11 per cent pay revision and elections to the employees' unions.
A committee comprising officials and employee leaders would be appointed over the merger of RTC with the government, it said.
The RTC management has also agreed to address the remaining issues as well, an official release said.
The employees would call off their strike and the RTC buses would hit the roads shortly, it said.
The employees had been on an indefinite strike since April 22 over a series of demands, including the merger of RTC with the government.
Earlier in the day, a driver of the RTC, who attempted suicide on April 23 during the strike, died at a hospital here in the early hours of Friday.
Shankar Goud, a 55-year-old driver, set himself ablaze by pouring petrol at Narsampet in Warangal district when the employees were staging a protest on Thursday in support of their demands.
Goud suffered serious burns, was initially admitted to a state-run hospital in Warangal, and later shifted to a super-speciality hospital in Hyderabad for advanced treatment.
"He succumbed (to injuries) at about 1.30 am on Friday," a senior official said.
The driver’s body was taken to his relative’s village, Muttojipet in Warangal district, for funeral rites.
Tension prevailed in Muttojipet as his family members and RTC employees attempted to take the body to the Narsampet bus station, where he worked, to enable his colleagues to pay their last respects. However, police did not permit this, citing law-and-order concerns.
This led to a deadlock before the funeral could proceed.
Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar criticised the Telangana government for not allowing the body to be taken to the Narsampet bus station.
Kumar, Minister of State (Home), visited Muttojipet village in Warangal district, where the funeral was held, and paid homage to Goud.
“They (family members) want to take the body to the bus depot for five minutes. Is the RTC bus depot in Pakistan or Bangladesh? They are emotionally attached to taking the body there. The government is hurting sentiments and creating fear among RTC employees,” Kumar told reporters.
He also expressed anger at the police for not allowing the body to be taken to the bus station and staged a protest, according to a release from his office.
RTC employees and BJP workers attempted to take the mortal remains in an ambulance to Narsampet, but were stopped by the police.
Later, after discussions with the police, the family members and RTC employees agreed to conduct the funeral in the village.
Sanjay Kumar, stating he would abide by the family’s decision, left the village after the funeral was conducted there.
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh, a house, and a government job would be provided to the kin of Goud.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed shock over the employee’s death and conveyed deep condolences to the grieving family, according to the release.
The RTC employees’ JAC had earlier announced an agitation programme from April 24 to 29, including silent marches and submission of memorandums to MLAs and other leaders.
