ICC's Massive Move Sparks Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli ODI Retirement Speculation
New Delhi, August 20, 2025 (NDTV Sports Desk):
In a shocking development, Indian cricket icons Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were abruptly removed from the ICC ODI Men’s Batting Rankings on Wednesday, sparking intense speculation about their ODI futures.
Just last week, Rohit was sitting at No. 2 while Kohli held the No. 4 spot, continuing their long-standing dominance in the top 10 rankings. However, fans woke up on Wednesday to find both players missing not only from the top 10 but also from the top 100 list altogether.
The move has triggered widespread rumours that the veteran duo might soon announce their retirement from ODI cricket.
What We Know So Far
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Rohit Sharma climbed from No. 3 to No. 2 in the latest update after Babar Azam’s poor run against West Indies.
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Virat Kohli was firmly placed at No. 4 before the sudden exclusion.
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Their disappearance has left fans questioning if the ICC system has made a technical error, or if it hints at a bigger announcement.
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The ICC has not released an official clarification at the time of writing.
Current ODI Rankings Shift
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Shubman Gill continues to hold the No. 1 position.
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Shreyas Iyer has jumped from No. 8 to No. 6, following Rohit and Kohli’s removal.
Retirement Buzz Grows Stronger
The development comes amid increasing debate about the future of senior players in India’s ODI setup. A young Indian team, led by Shubman Gill, recently impressed in a 2-2 away Test series against England, intensifying conversations around a generational shift.
Both Rohit and Kohli were part of India’s victorious Champions Trophy 2025 squad, so their exclusion raises more questions than answers. Neither player has officially announced retirement or been inactive long enough to warrant removal from ICC’s active player rankings.
For now, the cricketing world waits for clarity from the ICC or the players themselves. Until then, speculation around Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s ODI future is only set to grow louder.
