Virat Kohli overtakes Finch to become No. 1 in T20 Rankings

Virat Kohli finished the group stage of the World T20 as the top-scorer with 184 runs in four matches, at a strike-rate of 132. The 27-year-old, who started the World T20 as the World No. 2 batsman in the shortest format of the game, overtook Aaron Finch of Australia in the latest ranking and has established a 68-point lead at the top.

Kohli has been in breathtaking form throughout the Asia Cup last month and the league stage of the World Cup scoring 23, 55*, 24 and 82*in India's four group stage matches. In the Asia Cup, he propelled India over Pakistan after helping the team navigate a scorching spell of fast bowling by Mohammad Amir.

(Also read Kohli and Amir : the Kane and Abel of cricket )

Kohli was the nemesis against arch-rivals Pakistan again in the T20 Cup, producing a gritty display to win the match after India were struggling at 3/23 at one point. The Indian Test skipper also single-handedly took India across the line against Australia with a 51-ball-82 chasing 161 on a difficult pitch at Mohali. The 27-year-old came in for heavy praise from all quarters after the match-winning knock including M S Dhoni who said "I am not somebody like Virat" comparing their playing styles.

The win propelled India into the semi-final of the World Cup T20, with an emotional Kohli labelling it "my best innings".

Apart from Kohli, there are two more Indian batsmen in the top-20 – Rohit Sharma (13) and Suresh Raina (17) – both of whom have struggled to score runs recently. Among the bowlers, Ravichandran Ashwin remained at No. 2, while Ravindra Jadeja at 12 is the only other Indian in the top-20.

Riding on the exceptional form of Kohli and the bowlers, India has won 13 out of their last 15 T20 International matches this year, losing only to Sri Lanka and New Zealand in the opening matches of the India-Sri Lanka bilateral series and the World Cup T20 respectively.

With the performances, India have held onto their No. 1 ranking in T20I, while New Zealand leapfrogged West Indies and Australia to take the second spot. World No.5 England will take on the Black Caps in the first semi-final on March 30, while India faces World No. 3 West Indies in the second semi-final on March 31.