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The Algorithm Explained: How the ICC Rankings are calculated as Virat Kohli eyes top ODI spot

Prachi Rajan

Can Virat Kohli become No.1 in the ICC Men's ODI batting rankings (Source: AFP)  Can Virat Kohli become No.1 in the ICC Men's ODI batting rankings (Source: AFP)  

Indian star batter, Virat Kohli, with a century and a half-century in the past week, has inched closer to reclaiming the title of top-ranked ODI batter in the latest ICC rankings. Previously, Kohli was the world's best batter for three consecutive years in the 2010s until Pakistan's Babar Azam dethroned the King in April 2011. Notably, the former Indian batter hasn't returned to the top spot yet. 

Today, on Wednesday, the ICC Rankings will be updated, with fans anticipating Virat Kohli's return as the No. 1-ranked ODI batter. 

Hence, the tension and expectations around the same are peaking at their heights. That said, let's answer all your questions around the latest ICC Men's ODI batting ranking. 

When are the ICC Rankings updated every week?

After the March 2021 mandate by the apex body of world cricket, the International Cricket Council (ICC), the rankings adopted a weekly system of updating the player rankings. Notably, under this plan, women’s player rankings for both ODIs and T20Is are updated each Tuesday. Meanwhile, the men's rankings across all three formats, Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, are updated on Wednesdays.

Moreover, these updates include all matches completed up to the previous day and do not include any matches played on the day of the update. The team rankings continue to be updated as before, after each Test series and after each ODI and T20I.

At what time are ICC Men's Rankings updated?

No exact timings are available for the ICC rankings updates. However, as per the observations, the the revamped ratings and rankings can be noticed post 1:45 PM on Tuesdays for women and Wednesdays for men. 

How are ICC Rankings calculated? 

The ICC player rankings list international cricket players, ranked using a points-based system based on their weekly performances, calculated from a series of calculations that lead to a refined average. 

It is important to note that players are rated on a scale of 0 to 1000 points. Moreover, the player rankings are dependent on the player's performance. In simple terms, if a player’s performance improves relative to their past record, the points increase; if the player's performance declines, the points decrease. 

The player's performance within a match impacts his or her value, calculated using an algorithm, a series of calculations based on various circumstances in the game (all pre-programmed). Finally, there are slightly different factors for each of the other formats of the game. Above all, there is no human intervention in this calculation process, and no subjective assessment is made.

Now, it will be interesting to watch whether Virat Kohli's tremendous comeback will prove enough to make him the No.1 in the ICC Men's ODI batting rankings.

Check out the latest ICC Rankings here.