The ICC’s latest ODI rankings, released on Wednesday, created a stir as the names of Indian stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were unexpectedly missing.
ICC :Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, With both legends having stepped away from Tests and T20Is, and ODIs being their only active format, the omission triggered speculation on social media about their possible withdrawal from the 50-over game as well.
However, the ICC later clarified that the absence was the result of a technical glitch. “Several issues in this week’s rankings are currently under investigation,” the ICC told Wisden. The rankings were subsequently corrected, reinstating Rohit at No. 2 and Kohli at No. 4 in the ODI batting chart.
Meanwhile, in the latest ODI bowling rankings, India’s Kuldeep Yadav slipped to third spot as South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj reclaimed the No. 1 position. Maharaj earned the top spot after a match-winning performance against Australia in Cairns, where his five-wicket haul for 33 runs powered his side to a 98-run win. The 35-year-old left-arm spinner, who had briefly topped the rankings in late 2023, surpassed both Kuldeep and Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana.
Apart from Kuldeep, Ravindra Jadeja is the only other Indian bowler in the top 10. In the batting list, Shubman Gill continues to lead with 784 points, while Shreyas Iyer holds the eighth position. Notably, India has not played an ODI since their Champions Trophy triumph.