ICC Rankings Shake-Up Stuns Cricket World

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Absent from ODI Top 100 as Keshav Maharaj Climbs to No.1

New Delhi, August 20, 2025: A stunning development has been observed in the latest update of the ICC ODI rankings, which has left cricket fans and experts alike in disbelief. In an unexpected turn of events, the names of Indian cricket legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been dropped from the list, with neither player featuring in the top 100 of the batting charts. This comes just one week after Rohit Sharma had ascended to the second spot, and Virat Kohli was placed fourth.

The sudden exclusion has been met with widespread speculation and confusion, especially since both players are still active in the One Day International format. It is believed that the move could be related to the ICC’s ranking criteria, where a player’s rating can be impacted by a long period of inactivity. It is noted that both Kohli and Sharma last participated in an ODI match during the ICC Champions Trophy final in March 2025. Despite their continued commitment to the 50-over format, their absence from the rankings has been a subject of intense discussion on social media, with fans expressing their concern and surprise.

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While the batting rankings saw this perplexing shake-up, the bowling charts witnessed a significant change at the very top. South African spinner Keshav Maharaj has been propelled to the number one position in the ODI bowling rankings. His rise to the top was a result of a stellar performance in a recent match against Australia, where he claimed a career-best five-wicket haul. This achievement has allowed him to displace other top bowlers, including India’s Kuldeep Yadav, who has slipped to the third position.

The new rankings now show Keshav Maharaj leading the pack, followed by Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana. Kuldeep Yadav now occupies the third spot, while a number of other bowlers have also seen their positions change. The sudden change in the batting rankings for two of the format’s most prolific players has overshadowed these bowling updates, as the cricketing world grapples with the reasoning behind the decision.

Official statements from the ICC on the matter are awaited, but it has been speculated that a technical glitch could be responsible for the anomaly. Previously, players have been removed from the rankings after their retirement from a specific format, but neither Kohli nor Sharma have announced their retirement from ODI cricket. This has only fueled the debate and concern among fans who believe the removal is an unjust reflection of their contributions and recent performances. The cricketing community is eagerly waiting for the next update, hoping for a correction that would see the two Indian stalwarts restored to their rightful places in the rankings.