Virat Kohli’s remarkable resurgence in one-day cricket has propelled him back to the top of the ICC ODI rankings, reclaiming the No. 1 position for the first time in nearly five years. The 37-year-old batting icon has been in sublime touch, registering five scores of 50 or more in his last six ODI appearances, including two commanding centuries that underlined his enduring class and hunger for runs.

However, Kohli’s return to the summit was briefly overshadowed by an error from the International Cricket Council. Shortly after announcing his rise to the top spot, the ICC shared a social media graphic stating that Kohli had spent 825 days as the No. 1-ranked men’s ODI batter during his career. The figure placed him 10th on the all-time list, which immediately raised eyebrows among fans and analysts alike.

Several netizens were quick to flag the discrepancy, pointing out that official ICC records and previous data clearly show Kohli has enjoyed a far longer reign at the top. In reality, the former India captain has spent a staggering 1,547 days as the world’s leading ODI batter. Following the backlash, the ICC deleted the original post and corrected the statistic, reaffirming Kohli’s true tally.

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The correction significantly alters Kohli’s standing in the elite list. With 1,547 days at No. 1, he now sits third overall, behind only West Indies legends Sir Vivian Richards (2,306 days) and Brian Lara (2,079 days). It is yet another reminder of Kohli’s sustained excellence in the 50-over format across more than a decade.

🚨ICC deleted this post after massive backlash from Virat Kohli fans and corrected their mistake.

ICC mentioned that Virat Kohli spent 825 days as the No.1 ODI batter, but in reality, he held the top spot for 1,547 days.

How can a big cricketing body like the ICC make such a… pic.twitter.com/2QHC5KMeSV

— Mention Cricket (@MentionCricket) January 15, 2026

Currently active in just one international format, Kohli’s form over the past few months has been nothing short of outstanding. He struck two superb hundreds against South Africa in December, before making a successful return to domestic cricket by scoring a century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s premier List A competition.

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Kohli carried that momentum into the ODI series against New Zealand, beginning with a classy 93 in the opening match to guide India to victory. His consistency and hunger at 37 continue to set benchmarks, reinforcing his status as one of the greatest ODI batters the game has ever seen.