Virat Kohli, at 37, is back as the No. 1 ODI batter in the ICC men’s rankings. This came after his match-winning 93 runs against New Zealand on January 15, 2026. But the International Cricket Council made a mess of the announcement. They first said he spent only 825 days at the top, putting him 10th all-time. Fans weren’t having it.
After a lot of noise online, the ICC fixed their mistake. The correct number is 1,547 days. That puts Kohli at third all-time, behind Sir Vivian Richards and Brian Lara. It’s a huge jump from 10th place. And it shows how much cricket fans pay attention.
Kohli’s Return and Unstoppable Form
King Kohli’s return to the top wasn’t a fluke. He’s been on a scoring spree. In his last six international matches, he hit five scores over 50. That includes centuries against South Africa in December 2025 and in India’s Vijay Hazare Trophy. He just keeps delivering big runs.
The 93 off 91 balls against New Zealand in Vadodara was the latest example. India won that first ODI thanks to him. He’d been away from the top spot since July 2021. That’s almost five years. He first reached No. 1 way back in October 2013. It’s a long time to stay relevant in this game.
His prior knocks this run include 74, 135, 102, 65. He’s been doing this consistently. Back in 2018, Kohli had 909 rating points. He held a 65-point lead over the second-ranked player. Rohit Sharma was at 885 during the 2019 World Cup. That kind of gap is rare for sure.
ICC’s Ranking Fumble and Fan Power
The initial graphic from the ICC showed Kohli with only 825 days as the top-ranked ODI batter. This made him 10th on the all-time list. It raised eyebrows immediately. People saw the error. Cricket followers know these stats well.
Social media went off. Users pointed out the ICC’s own archives showed 1,547 days. “
ICC deleted this post after massive backlash from Virat Kohli fans and corrected their mistake.
” said one post on X. Another asked: “How can a big cricketing body like the ICC make such a [error]?”
The ICC listened. They deleted the wrong post. Then they put out a revised statement. It confirmed 1,547 days. No public explanation for the error. Sources suggest it was a data mismatch. A problem with graphics and historical data pulls. They just fixed it and moved on.
Cementing a Legacy: Third All-Time
With the correction, Kohli’s standing jumped from 10th to third. He’s now behind only Sir Vivian Richards, who has 2,306 days at No. 1, and Brian Lara, with 2,079 days. His total of 1,547 days means he’s the top Indian player on that list. This is his 11th time at the top, too. That’s a lot of spells.
| Rank | Player | Days at No. 1 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vivian Richards | 2,306 |
| 2 | Brian Lara | 2,079 |
| 3 | Virat Kohli | 1,547 |
This “days at No. 1” metric matters. It speaks to longevity. To sustained dominance over years. Kohli reclaiming the spot at 37, after a long gap, adds to his story. He’s not a one-stint wonder. He keeps coming back. His place among the greats is clear. And some still debate his genius in ODIs.
What’s Next for India and Kohli
The India-New Zealand ODI series is tied at 1-1. The decider is set for January 18, 2026, at Holkar Stadium in Indore. Kohli’s form will be key there. As of January 16, all the corrected ranking figures are live on ICC platforms. No more errors. The focus is back on the cricket.
This whole situation shows how important data accuracy is. A small error can mess up a whole narrative. But the fans quickly put it right. And Kohli’s purple patch continues. Hindustan Times confirmed the correction’s finality. It’s good to see it all sorted.
He’s still got it. This makes his legacy even stronger. Not just the peak numbers, but the staying power. Hard to argue with that.
Sagnik Banerjee 
Ishaan Singh 
Priyanjan Paul