ICC Forced To Correct Virat Kohli's No. 1 ODI Ranking Record After Mistake Makes Fans Furious

Virat Kohli made history with his return to the pinnacle of the ICC ODI batting rankings, but it briefly sparked controversy when an error in an official ICC social media graphic caused confusion and criticism.

The global body was forced to issue a correction soon after.

What Is The Kohli-ICC Controversy?

Kohli reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the ICC Men’s ODI Rankings after scoring a match-winning 93 off 91 balls against New Zealand in the first ODI at Vadodara, which India won by four wickets. This performance marked his first return to the summit in nearly five years, his previous stint at the top ending in July 2021.

Shortly after announcing his rise, ICC shared a graphic that incorrectly stated Kohli had spent only 825 days as the world’s top-ranked ODI batter. This figure placed

him 10th on the all-time list, a detail that immediately drew sharp reactions from fans, analysts, and statisticians.

Many pointed out that this number did not match the ICC’s own archived records, which had long credited Kohli with a much higher tally.

As the debate gained traction on social media, users highlighted that Kohli had actually spent 1,547 days at No. 1 across multiple spells. Facing mounting criticism, ICC quietly removed the original post and later released an updated statement with the corrected figure.

History Can’t Be Removed

With 1,547 days at the top, Kohli ranks third on the all-time list of batters with the most days as the No. 1 ODI player. Only West Indies legends Sir Vivian Richards (2,306 days) and Brian Lara (2,079 days) are ahead of him. Kohli is also the most successful Indian in this regard.

The ICC confirmed in its revised note that this is Kohli’s 11th separate stint at No. 1, dating back to his first rise in October 2013. His latest return has been powered by a superb run of form, with five scores of 50 or more in his last six international matches, including two centuries. This sequence includes notable knocks of 74, 135, 102, 65, and 93.