Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma disappear and reappear in ICC ODI rankings

Dubai: A major blunder by the International Cricket Council (ICC) sparked widespread speculation on social media regarding the futures of Indian cricket icons Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The confusion began when both players were inexplicably dropped from the ICC ODI rankings. Rohit's second-place spot was temporarily given to Pakistan’s Babar Azam, while Kohli’s fourth-place position was taken over by New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell.

The absence of the two Indian veterans caused a stir across the cricketing world. However, a few hours later, the ICC rectified the error and reinstated both players to their rightful rankings. Rohit returned to second place, pushing Babar back to third, and Kohli reclaimed fourth, relegating Mitchell to fifth.

At 38 and 36 respectively, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have retired from both T20Is and Test cricket, leaving ODIs as the only international format they currently play. With the decreasing number of ODI fixtures in recent years, questions continue to swirl about whether the two stalwarts will remain part of India’s plans for the 2027 World Cup.

Their last appearance in international cricket was during the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand on March 9.

Meanwhile, in the bowling department, India’s Kuldeep Yadav has slipped to third place in the ODI rankings. South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj reclaimed the top spot following a match-winning performance in the first ODI against Australia in Cairns. The 35-year-old left-arm spinner, who took 5 for 33 and was named Player of the Match, surpassed both Kuldeep and Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana to regain a position he briefly held in late 2023.

In the men’s ODI batting rankings, Shubman Gill continues to lead with 784 points. He is one of four Indians in the top 10, joined by Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer—who currently holds sixth place.

West Indies skipper Shai Hope has climbed two spots to ninth after an unbeaten 120 against Pakistan. Other notable movers include South Africa’s Aiden Markram (up to 21st), Temba Bavuma (23rd), and Australia’s Mitchell Marsh (48th), all making significant progress.

In the men’s T20I rankings, India’s Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma continue to hold the top two spots. Captain Suryakumar Yadav is ranked sixth, while Yashasvi Jaiswal remains in 10th place. South Africa’s Dewald Brevis has jumped nine positions to 12th, and Australia’s Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell have moved up to 25th and 30th, respectively.