ICC issues clarification after Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli mysteriously vanished from ODI rankings

The International Cricket Council (ICC) issued a clarification after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma mysteriously went missing from the latest ICC ODI batting rankings released on Wednesday. Both senior India batters, who were ranked No. 2 and No. 4 last week, were suddenly absent from the top-100, sparking confusion and speculation across social media. Fans questioned whether it was a technical glitch or an intentional update by the governing body. Virat Kohli, left, and Rohit Sharma no longer have the long rope(AFP)

Speaking to Hindustan Times, an ICC spokesperson admitted the mistake. “There was an error in our rankings tables today, but it has been rectified,” the official said.

An updated rankings chart is yet to reflect on ICC's website, which still shows the ODI rankings last updated on August 10, 2025.

What happened on Wednesday?

In a surprising development that left cricket fans across the globe baffled, Indian cricket stalwarts Rohit and Kohli were removed from the latest ICC ODI batting rankings released on Wednesday. Just a week ago, Rohit was ranked No.2 and Kohli No.4 in the world. As of the August 20 update, neither player features even in the top 100, sparking widespread speculation and confusion across social media.

The sudden disappearance of the two legendary batters from the rankings comes despite the fact that both remain active in the ODI format. The move appears to be an error or technical glitch in the ICC's ranking system, as no formal retirement or inactivity clause applies to either player.

Both Rohit and Kohli last played ODIs in February 2025 during the ICC Champions Trophy in the UAE, where they played pivotal roles in India’s title-winning campaign. Rohit scored a match-winning knock in the final, helping India lift their first ODI ICC trophy in a decade. Kohli too was in sublime form during the group stages, anchoring the Indian innings in challenging conditions, particularly at the spin-friendly Dubai International Stadium.

Until last week’s update, Rohit was second only to Shubman Gill in the ICC ODI batting charts, while Kohli occupied the fourth spot with 736 rating points. With Wednesday’s rankings, Babar Azam has now moved up to No.2 behind Gill, who remains the top-ranked batter with 756 points.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's removal from ICC ODI Rankings sparks retirement speculations

The abrupt removal of the two icons led to a wave of fan reactions online, with #RohitSharma and #ViratKohli trending on X (formerly Twitter) as users speculated whether this was an oversight, a technical glitch, or a miscommunication from the ICC.

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