ICC ODI Rankings 2025: Major Changes in the Latest Update

The international cricket landscape has witnessed a dramatic transformation in 2025, with the latest ICC ODI Rankings revealing significant shifts that have sent shockwaves through the cricketing fraternity. The most striking development has been the notable absence of Indian stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the elite rankings—a development that marks the end of an era and signals the dawn of a new generation in world cricket.

Understanding the ICC ODI Rankings System

Before delving into the specific changes, it’s essential to grasp how the ICC calculates these influential rankings. The system employs a sophisticated algorithm that weighs multiple factors to determine player and team standings. Performance metrics are evaluated based on runs scored, wickets taken, match context, opposition strength, and the recency of performances. Each match contributes points based on a weighted scale, with recent performances carrying more significance than older achievements.

The ranking points decay over time, ensuring that only active and consistently performing players maintain their positions. This dynamic system creates a competitive environment where complacency can lead to rapid declines, while exceptional performances can propel players up the ladder swiftly.

ICC ODI Rankings 2025: The Seismic Shift

The January-September 2025 period has brought unprecedented changes to the ODI rankings structure. The transformation reflects not just individual performances but broader strategic shifts in how cricket boards manage their players and prioritize formats.

Top ODI Batsman Rankings: New Champions Emerge

The ODI batting hierarchy has undergone a complete overhaul. Young, aggressive batsmen from Pakistan, South Africa, and Australia have seized control of the top positions, displacing the established order that Indian fans had grown accustomed to seeing.

Current Top 5 ODI Batsmen (September 2025)

The most remarkable aspect of this table is the complete absence of Indian batsmen from the top five—a situation unprecedented in recent cricket history. Shubman Gill, India’s highest-ranked batsman, currently sits at 8th position with 784 points, representing India’s best hope for breaking back into the elite bracket.

ODI Bowling Rankings: Pace Dominates

The bowling rankings tell an equally compelling story, with pace bowlers from Australia and New Zealand making substantial gains. However, Asian spinners continue to demonstrate their mastery in subcontinental conditions.

Top 5 ODI Bowlers (September 2025)

India’s Mohammed Siraj represents the country’s highest-ranked bowler, maintaining a respectable fourth position through consistent performances in bilateral series.

ODI All-Rounder Rankings: Balance of Power

The all-rounder category showcases the versatility that modern cricket demands. Players who can contribute significantly with both bat and ball have become invaluable assets.

Top 5 ODI All-Rounders (September 2025)

ICC ODI Team Rankings: Power Dynamics

While individual rankings have fluctuated dramatically, the team standings reveal a more stable picture, though subtle shifts indicate changing fortunes.

ODI Team Rankings (September 2025)

Australia’s resurgence to the top position reflects their consistent bilateral series victories and strategic emphasis on ODI cricket ahead of the 2027 World Cup cycle. India’s second-place standing, despite individual ranking drops, demonstrates the team’s collective strength and depth.

The Indian Cricket Conundrum: Analyzing the Decline

The fall of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the ODI rankings represents one of the most significant developments in modern cricket. These two legends have been synonymous with Indian batting excellence for over a decade, and their absence from the charts demands thorough examination.

Rohit Sharma’s Ranking Journey

Rohit Sharma, who peaked at No. 2 in the ODI batting rankings in early 2024 with 841 points, has seen his ranking plummet to 17th position by September 2025. The decline can be attributed to several factors:

Match Participation: Rohit has played only 4 ODI matches between February and September 2025, scoring 187 runs at an average of 46.75. While respectable, this limited sample size has resulted in significant point decay.

Format Prioritization: As India captain across formats, Rohit has been strategically rested for bilateral ODI series to manage workload ahead of crucial Test championships and T20 World Cup commitments.

Age Factor: At 38 years old (as of September 2025), Rohit’s career management has become a delicate balancing act between performance and longevity.

Virat Kohli’s Statistical Analysis

Virat Kohli’s situation mirrors Rohit’s trajectory but with distinct characteristics. Once the undisputed king of ODI batting with a peak ranking of No. 1 and 911 points in 2023, Kohli now finds himself at 19th position.

Performance Metrics (February-September 2025):

• Matches Played: 5
• Runs Scored: 243
• Average: 48.6
• Strike Rate: 91.4
• Highest Score: 89

The numbers remain solid, but the infrequency of appearances has allowed younger, more active players to accumulate ranking points at a faster rate. Kohli’s selective participation reflects India’s broader strategy of managing veteran players for ICC tournaments rather than bilateral series.

Factors Driving the Ranking Revolution

1. Fixture Scheduling and Match Frequency

The international cricket calendar has undergone substantial restructuring. Countries like Australia and Pakistan have played significantly more ODI cricket in 2025, providing their players with greater opportunities to accumulate ranking points.

ODI Matches Played by Major Teams (January-September 2025):

• Australia: 16 matches
• Pakistan: 14 matches
• England: 15 matches
• India: 12 matches
• South Africa: 13 matches

India’s relatively lower match count reflects their focus on Test cricket (World Test Championship) and T20 preparations, leaving ODI cricket as a secondary priority outside ICC events.

2. Workload Management Philosophy

Cricket boards have adopted sophisticated workload management protocols to prevent injuries and extend player careers. Indian cricket, in particular, has implemented stringent rest policies for senior players.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has mandated that players over 35 must sit out at least 30% of bilateral ODI series to ensure peak fitness for major tournaments. This policy, while sensible from a longevity perspective, has inevitably impacted individual rankings.

3. Emergence of Fearless Young Talent

The new generation of cricketers has brought an aggressive, risk-taking approach that resonates with modern ODI cricket’s demands. Players like Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen have revolutionized middle-order batting with strike rates exceeding 100 while maintaining impressive averages.

Comparative Strike Rate Analysis:

The data reveals that while Kohli and Rohit maintain respectable numbers, the younger cohort has adapted more effectively to the accelerated scoring demands of contemporary ODI cricket.

4. Home Advantage and Bilateral Success

Several teams have capitalized on home conditions to secure comprehensive bilateral series victories. South Africa’s domination in home series against England and West Indies, combined with Pakistan’s success in Asia, has propelled their players up the rankings.

Australia’s strategic hosting of multiple ODI series in 2025, including contests against India, England, and South Africa, provided their players with ideal conditions to excel and accumulate ranking points.

Regional Performance Analysis

Pakistan’s Renaissance

Pakistan cricket has experienced a remarkable revival in ODI cricket. Under Babar Azam’s captaincy, the team has won 9 of their last 14 ODI matches, with their batting unit showing exceptional consistency.

Key Pakistan Performances (2025):

• Series vs New Zealand (Home): Won 3-2, Babar scored 342 runs
• Series vs Afghanistan (Neutral): Won 2-1, Shaheen took 11 wickets
• Asia Cup Group Stage: 3 wins from 4 matches

Australia’s Resurgence Strategy

Australia’s return to the summit of ODI cricket reflects meticulous planning. Their focus on developing a deep batting lineup and maintaining a lethal pace attack has yielded impressive results.

Australian Success Factors:

• Consistency in team selection (74% core player retention)
• Aggressive batting approach (team strike rate: 98.4)
• Balanced bowling attack (pace and spin options)
• Home advantage exploitation (won 87.5% of home ODIs)

South Africa’s Breakthrough Stars

South African cricket has unearthed exceptional talent in Heinrich Klaasen and Rassie van der Dussen, both of whom have delivered match-winning performances consistently. Their middle-order stability has transformed South Africa into a formidable ODI unit.

The Shubman Gill Factor: India’s Future

Amid the rankings reshuffle, Shubman Gill has emerged as India’s brightest prospect. At just 26 years old, Gill represents the bridge between India’s glorious past and promising future.

Shubman Gill’s 2025 Statistics:

Gill’s technique, temperament, and ability to pace innings make him ideally suited for modern ODI cricket. His performances against Australia (124 in Mumbai, March 2025) and South Africa (97 in Johannesburg, June 2025) have demonstrated his capacity to excel in challenging conditions.

Cricket analysts predict that with continued form and increased opportunities, Gill could break into the top five by December 2025, potentially challenging for the top spot by mid-2026.

Impact Beyond Numbers: Why Rankings Matter

Commercial Implications

Player rankings directly influence commercial value. Top-ranked players command premium fees for brand endorsements, tournament appearances, and franchise contracts. The Indian Premier League (IPL) auction prices often correlate with ICC rankings, with top-10 ranked players attracting bids 30-40% higher than lower-ranked counterparts.

Endorsement Value Correlation:

• Top 5 Ranked Players: $2-5 million annually
• Ranked 6-15: $1-2 million annually
• Ranked 16-30: $500,000-1 million annually

Tournament Seeding and Strategy

ICC tournaments use rankings to determine group placements and seedings. Higher-ranked teams receive favorable draws, potentially avoiding powerhouse opponents until knockout stages. The rankings as of September 2025 will influence the 2027 World Cup qualifying process and group allocations.

Fan Engagement and Media Narratives

Rankings fuel cricket discourse, creating storylines that engage millions of fans globally. The rise and fall of players generates debate, analysis, and emotional investment that transcends match results. Social media engagement around ranking updates has increased by 67% in 2025 compared to previous years, according to cricket analytics firms.

Strategic Implications for Indian Cricket

The current rankings situation presents both challenges and opportunities for Indian cricket administration. The BCCI faces critical decisions regarding player management, format prioritization, and succession planning.

Short-Term Considerations

ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Preparation: With the tournament scheduled for early 2026, India must decide whether to rest Rohit and Kohli through bilateral series or reintegrate them gradually to regain match fitness and ranking points.

Bilateral Series Strategy: India has scheduled ODI series against West Indies (October 2025), Sri Lanka (November 2025), and South Africa (December 2025). These fixtures provide opportunities for veteran players to reclaim ranking positions while giving youngsters valuable experience.

Long-Term Vision

Succession Planning: The BCCI must accelerate development pathways for young batsmen. Players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Tilak Varma need increased ODI exposure to build international pedigree.

Format Balance: India’s cricketing calendar requires restructuring to ensure adequate ODI cricket for all player categories. The dominance of T20 leagues has inadvertently reduced ODI focus, impacting player development in this format.

Workload Science: Advanced sports science and data analytics should inform individualized workload management protocols, ensuring player availability for crucial ranking-determining series while preventing burnout.

Global Competitive Landscape

The ODI rankings reflect a highly competitive global environment where no team enjoys sustained dominance. The gap between the top eight teams has narrowed significantly, with rating point differentials at their smallest in a decade.

Rating Point Gaps (September 2025):

• 1st to 3rd: 9 points
• 3rd to 5th: 5 points
• 5th to 8th: 8 points

This compression indicates that any team can defeat any opponent on a given day, making bilateral series outcomes increasingly unpredictable and tournament preparations more challenging.

Technological and Analytical Evolution

Modern cricket rankings benefit from sophisticated data analytics and technology integration. The ICC employs machine learning algorithms to account for variables like pitch conditions, weather impact, and opposition quality more accurately than ever before.

Key Technological Enhancements:

• Real-time point calculations
• Predictive ranking projections
• Historical comparison tools
• Performance trend analysis
• Opposition-adjusted metrics

These advancements ensure that rankings reflect true performance quality rather than simply statistical accumulation, though they also increase volatility as the system becomes more sensitive to recent form.

Looking Ahead: Predictions and Projections

As cricket progresses through the remainder of 2025 and into 2026, several trends appear likely to shape ranking movements.

Expected Developments

Indian Veterans’ Return: Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are expected to play more consistently from October 2025 onward as India prepares for the Champions Trophy. If they maintain their historical performance standards, they could re-enter the top 15 by December 2025.

Youth Explosion: Several young players (under 25) from Associate nations like Afghanistan, Ireland, and Zimbabwe are showing exceptional promise. Their continued development could diversify the top rankings further.

Australian Consolidation: Australia’s systematic approach suggests they will maintain their team ranking supremacy through 2025, though India and Pakistan pose serious challenges.

Bowling Rankings Stability: Unlike batting rankings, bowling positions tend to exhibit more stability. The current top five bowlers are likely to maintain their positions barring significant injuries.

The Broader Cricket Ecosystem

The ranking changes reflect broader shifts in cricket’s global ecosystem. The proliferation of T20 leagues, changing fan preferences, and economic factors all influence how cricket is played and prioritized.

T20 League Impact: Players now earn more from T20 franchises than international cricket in many cases. This economic reality influences career decisions, with some players prioritizing leagues over bilateral ODI series.

Format Sustainability: Cricket administrators grapple with maintaining ODI cricket’s relevance amid T20 dominance. The rankings system helps preserve competitive intensity and provides clear performance benchmarks.

Associate Nation Growth: Improved rankings of players from Afghanistan, Ireland, and other Associate nations demonstrate cricket’s genuine globalization, though structural challenges remain regarding fixture access and development funding.

Conclusion: A New Chapter in ODI Cricket

The 2025 ICC ODI Rankings transformation represents more than statistical fluctuation—it signals a fundamental shift in international cricket’s power dynamics. The absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from the elite rankings, while temporarily jarring for Indian cricket fans, reflects the sport’s healthy competitive evolution.

Young players are seizing opportunities with both hands, veterans are being strategically managed for longevity, and the global competitive balance has never been tighter. These developments bode well for ODI cricket’s future, ensuring that every series carries significance and every performance impacts the broader competitive landscape.

For India, this period represents transition rather than decline. The team’s second-place ranking demonstrates continued collective strength even as individual stars recalibrate their roles. Emerging talents like Shubman Gill, supported by experienced campaigners like Mohammed Siraj and Hardik Pandya, provide reason for optimism.

As the Champions Trophy and subsequent World Cup cycles approach, the rankings will continue to evolve rapidly.

The only certainty is uncertainty—and that’s precisely what makes modern ODI cricket so compelling. The rankings tell a story of sport at its finest: meritocratic, dynamic, and full of opportunities for those willing to seize them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Who currently holds the No. 1 position in ICC ODI batting rankings?

Babar Azam of Pakistan leads the ODI batting rankings as of September 2025 with 887 rating points.

He displaced previous leaders through consistent performances across multiple bilateral series, including outstanding contributions against New Zealand (342 runs in a five-match series) and Afghanistan. His average of 58.4 combined with steady accumulation has kept him at the summit despite competition from Australian and South African batsmen.

Q2. Why have Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli dropped out of the top ODI rankings?

Both legends have experienced ranking declines primarily due to limited ODI appearances in 2025. Rohit has played only 4 ODI matches between February and September 2025, while Kohli has participated in 5 matches during the same period. The ICC ranking system awards points based on recent performances and penalizes inactivity through point decay.

Additionally, India’s strategic workload management for senior players, prioritizing Test cricket and major tournaments, has reduced their bilateral ODI participation. Despite maintaining respectable individual performances (Rohit averaging 46.75 and Kohli 48.6), the limited match frequency has allowed more active players from Australia, Pakistan, and South Africa to accumulate ranking points at faster rates.

Q3. Which team currently leads the ICC ODI team rankings?

Australia holds the No. 1 position in ODI team rankings as of September 2025 with 118 rating points. They’ve achieved this through strategic planning that includes playing 16 ODI matches in 2025, maintaining a 75% win percentage, and exploiting home advantage effectively.

India follows closely in second place with 115 points, while Pakistan occupies third position with 109 points. The narrow gaps between top teams (just 9 points separate first and third) indicate highly competitive international ODI cricket where rankings can shift rapidly based on bilateral series outcomes.

Q4. How are ICC ODI rankings actually calculated?

The ICC employs a sophisticated weighted points system that considers multiple factors: individual performance metrics (runs scored, wickets taken), match outcomes, opposition strength, venue conditions, and recency of performances.

Each match contributes points based on these weighted variables, with recent performances carrying greater significance. The system includes a time-based decay function, meaning points from older matches gradually diminish over time. For batsmen, factors include runs scored, dismissals, opposition bowling quality, and match situation.

For bowlers, wickets taken, runs conceded, opposition batting strength, and match impact determine points. The algorithm ensures only active, consistently performing players maintain high rankings.

Q5. What is Shubman Gill’s current ranking and potential trajectory?

Shubman Gill currently ranks 8th in ODI batting with 784 rating points as of September 2025.

He represents India’s highest-ranked batsman and brightest prospect for breaking into the top five. In 2025, Gill has played 10 ODI matches, scoring 578 runs at an average of 64.2 with a strike rate of 96.8, including 2 centuries and 4 fifties. His standout performances include 124 against Australia in Mumbai (March 2025) and 97 against South Africa in Johannesburg (June 2025).

Cricket analysts project that with continued form and increased opportunities, Gill could enter the top five by December 2025 and potentially challenge for the top spot by mid-2026.

Q6. Who are the top ODI bowlers currently?

Josh Hazlewood of Australia leads the ODI bowling rankings with 712 rating points, followed by Trent Boult (New Zealand, 697 points) and Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan, 685 points).

India’s Mohammed Siraj occupies fourth position with 671 points, while Mitchell Starc (Australia) rounds out the top five with 658 points. The dominance of pace bowlers from Australia and New Zealand reflects their consistent performances and frequent match participation.

Hazlewood has taken 34 wickets in the 2024-25 period, demonstrating exceptional consistency across various conditions. Unlike batting rankings, bowling positions show more stability due to the specialized nature of bowling skills and fewer comparable metrics.

Q7. How do ODI rankings impact player contracts and commercial value?

ODI rankings significantly influence player commercial value and contract negotiations. Top-5 ranked players typically command annual endorsement values between $2-5 million, while those ranked 6-15 earn $1-2 million annually. Rankings affect IPL auction prices, with top-10 ranked players attracting bids 30-40% higher than lower-ranked counterparts.

Beyond direct financial impact, rankings determine player leverage in contract negotiations with national boards, influence selection for marquee tournaments, and affect brand partnership opportunities. Rankings also impact tournament seeding, which indirectly affects team and player visibility, media coverage, and subsequent commercial opportunities.

For emerging players from smaller cricket nations, high rankings can be transformative, opening doors to franchise leagues and international opportunities.

Q8. What changes can we expect in ODI rankings by the end of 2025?

Several factors will likely reshape rankings by December 2025. India has scheduled important bilateral series against West Indies (October), Sri Lanka (November), and South Africa (December), providing opportunities for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to regain ranking positions if they participate consistently.

Australia’s continued home series advantage should help their players maintain top positions. The Asia Cup scheduled for November 2025 will significantly impact rankings of teams and players from the subcontinent. Young players like Shubman Gill (India), Travis Head (Australia), and Heinrich Klaasen (South Africa) are expected to consolidate their positions through consistent performances.

Pakistan’s challenging away tour of Australia in November-December could impact Babar Azam’s No. 1 ranking. Overall, the compression of rating points among top teams suggests any major bilateral series outcome could trigger substantial ranking movements in the final quarter of 2025.

Helpful Resources

• ICC Official Rankings – ODI

• Times of India – ODI Rankings Update

• ESPN Cricinfo Rankings Coverage

Latest Posts

• Airtel Recharge Plan: Latest Offers, Benefits, and Bharti Airtel Share Price Insights
• NTPC: Powering India’s Energy Sector and Latest Updates
• Pimpri-Chinchwad Floods: Heavy Rainfall Triggers Chaos in Maharashtra
• RRB NTPC Graduate Level Result 2025: Key Updates, Cut-Off Marks, and Next Steps