Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma names have been disappeared from the ICC’s latest ODI batters’ rankings.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, India’s biggest ODI stars, have suddenly disappeared from the ICC’s latest ODI batters’ rankings. Both played key roles in India’s Champions Trophy 2025 win in March, but they are not on the updated list released on Wednesday (Aug 20). Their absence has been confusing, as neither player has announced retirement.
Reports say ICC removed Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma because they have not played any ODI matches during the current qualifying cycle. Still, this move surprises fans because both did play in the Champions Trophy earlier this year.
Some insiders even suggest there could be a software glitch in ICC’s ranking system. Last week, Rohit was second and Kohli was fourth with 736 points each. Their sudden drop to “no ranking” in a week looks strange to many supporters.
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While the senior duo disappears, Shubman Gill shines at the top. The young opener is number one in the ODI batters’ rankings with 784 points. Pakistan’s Babar Azam is second with 739 points.
India also has Shreyas Iyer in the top ten. Iyer, another key player from the Champions Trophy-winning team, is sixth with 704 points.
The removal of Kohli and Rohit highlights a bigger problem. Senior players who do not play frequently risk losing ranking points because there are fewer ODI matches scheduled during this cycle.
Their absence increases the ranking prominence of younger players like Gill and Iyer. However, this does not reflect their actual form, as both seniors performed strongly during India’s recent title win.
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Supporters are already debating whether the rankings are fair. Some think a technical error or delay may have caused the disappearance.
Others feel ICC should update its system to include tournaments like the Champions Trophy, which are highly competitive. Until the matter is clarified, fans are left guessing whether this is a mistake or strict rule enforcement.
If Kohli and Rohit return to ODIs soon, their names will reappear in the rankings. Meanwhile, the focus shifts to Gill, Iyer, and India’s next generation of ODI stars. For now, India celebrates having Gill as the top-ranked batter, even as the absence of two legends raises more questions than answers.
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