The International Cricket Council (ICC) has clarified the reason behind the sudden disappearance of Indian stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from
the latest ODI batting rankings. Fans were left stunned on Wednesday, August 20, as the two were nowhere to be found in the updated charts.
The absence of the two modern-day greats sparked wild speculation on social media, with many questioning whether Rohit and Kohli were preparing to announce their retirements from the 50-over format. Both players had already bid farewell to T20Is and Tests earlier this year, further fueling concerns among fans.
However, much to the relief of Indian supporters, the ICC soon restored both names to the rankings. In a statement, the governing body confirmed that a technical glitch led to the temporary disappearance, alongside a few other irregularities in the update. The clarification ends speculation around the ODI futures of Rohit and Kohli, who remain central to India’s plans in the format.
"A number of issues in this week’s rankings are currently being investigated," said the ICC to Wisden.com.
While Rohit is currently ranked second among ODI batters in the ICC rankings, Virat Kohli holds the fourth spot. Both were last seen in action during the IPL 2025 season, representing the Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), respectively. Rohit could not add to his five IPL titles as MI were knocked out in the second qualifier, whereas Kohli celebrated his maiden IPL crown with RCB, defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the final.
The duo last represented India in ODIs during the 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai, where they played pivotal roles in India clinching their first ICC ODI title since 2013. Rohit, India’s current ODI skipper, was named Player of the Match in the final against New Zealand after scoring 76 off 83 balls. Kohli remained consistent throughout the tournament, finishing as the fifth-highest run-scorer with 218 runs at an average of 54.50 and a strike rate of 82.88.
Both Rohit and Kohli had retired from T20Is following India’s triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup and announced their Test retirements in May ahead of the recently concluded England tour.
India’s next ODI assignment will be a three-match series against Australia, beginning on October 19, where both players are expected to feature.
