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The International Cricket Council's (ICC) ODI rankings witnessed a brief period of upheaval, with Indian cricketing stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli initially disappearing from the listings only to reappear a few hours later. This unexpected absence triggered a wave of speculation and discussion on social media platforms. The ICC, however, has remained silent on the reasons behind this temporary removal, leaving fans and analysts alike to ponder the possible causes. The initial update saw Pakistan's Babar Azam ascend to the second position, previously held by Rohit Sharma, while New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell replaced Kohli at the fourth spot. However, the subsequent reinstatement of Rohit and Kohli resulted in Babar Azam being pushed back to third and Mitchell to fifth. This incident has undoubtedly raised questions about the stability and accuracy of the ICC's ranking system, prompting calls for greater transparency in its operations.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's limited participation in ODI cricket has been a subject of debate in recent times. Both players have retired from T20Is and Test cricket, making ODIs the only format of international cricket they are still actively involved in. With the increasing focus on T20 cricket and the resulting decline in the frequency of ODI matches, there has been speculation about whether they still figure prominently in the Indian selectors' plans for the 2027 World Cup. Rohit Sharma continues to lead the Indian ODI team, while both he and Kohli have prioritized limited-overs cricket in the latter stages of their careers. Rohit retired from Tests during the 2025 IPL, and Kohli followed suit towards the end of the season. Their last appearance in international cricket was the final of the Champions Trophy against New Zealand on March 9, where India emerged victorious. Rohit was named player of the match for his impressive innings of 76 runs off 83 balls.
In other notable shifts in the ICC rankings, Shubman Gill continues to reign supreme as the top-ranked batsman in ODIs, accumulating 784 points. He is joined by three other Indian players in the top 10, namely Shreyas Iyer, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli, highlighting India's dominance in the batting department. Shreyas Iyer currently occupies the sixth position. Meanwhile, in the bowling rankings, South Africa's Keshav Maharaj has reclaimed the top spot, surpassing India's Kuldeep Yadav, who has slipped to third. Maharaj's stellar performance in the first ODI against Australia, where he took five wickets for 33 runs, propelled him to the summit. This marks his second stint at the top, having previously held the position briefly in November and December 2023. His remarkable bowling display was instrumental in South Africa's 98-run victory over Australia in Cairns. The Sri Lankan bowler Maheesh Theekshana also sits at the second position between Maharaj and Yadav.
Beyond the top-ranked players, several other individuals have made significant strides in the ICC rankings. West Indies captain Shai Hope has climbed two places to ninth position after his unbeaten knock of 120 runs in the final ODI against Pakistan. Aiden Markram of South Africa has moved up four places to 21st, while his teammate Temba Bavuma has progressed five places to 23rd. Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has also enjoyed a positive shift, rising six places to 48th. In the men's T20I rankings, India's Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma maintain their grip on the top two positions, while skipper Suryakumar Yadav occupies the sixth spot and Yashasvi Jaiswal holds the tenth position. South Africa's Dewald Brevis continues his ascent, gaining nine spots to reach 12th position, while Australians Marsh and Glenn Maxwell have advanced four and 10 spots, respectively, to reach 25th and 30th positions. These movements reflect the dynamic nature of the ICC rankings, where players' performances are constantly evaluated and rewarded.