ICC Rankings Glitch Sparks Retirement Rumors for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli—But It Was Just a Technical Error
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On August 20, 2025, the ICC updated its ODI batting rankings—only for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to vanish from the list altogether. The two cricketing stalwarts, who had recently held the No. 2 and No. 4 spots respectively, were nowhere to be seen—not even in the top 100. The abrupt disappearance ignited a firestorm across social media, as fans wondered whether this signified their retirement from the format.
Their absence was particularly striking given that both players remain active in the format. Rohit had starred in the Champions Trophy earlier this year, and Kohli, too, has been a pivotal presence in India’s limited-overs squad.
Responding to the confusion, the ICC quickly issued a clarification: the removal was due to a technical glitch, not a reflection of retirement or inactivity. The error was swiftly rectified—restoring Rohit to the No. 2 spot and Kohli to No. 4, alleviating concerns across the cricketing world.
Both players had previously retired from Test and T20I formats, fueling heightened sensitivity and speculation. Nevertheless, they have repeatedly reassured fans of their continued commitment to ODIs. Rohit famously quipped during Champions Trophy celebrations, “We are not retiring,” adding, “Please don’t spread rumours.”.
As cricket dashboards returned to normal, fans and pundits alike breathed easy. Today’s episode underlines how quickly misinformation can burgeon in the digital age—but also how swiftly it can be corrected.
