Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has blind-ranked the current ODI batters.

Virat Kohli finished at No.1 in Pathan's ranking.

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has sparked a fresh cricket debate after participating in a blind-ranking challenge on Star Sports India featuring some of the biggest names in modern-day ODI cricket. Pathan placed Virat Kohli at the top of his list, while three Indian batters occupied the first three positions in his final ranking.

The activity took place amid India’s ongoing ODI series against New Zealand. Pathan was presented with the names of eight established international batters one by one and had to assign each player a position from one to eight without knowing which names would follow.

The format made the challenge particularly interesting, as Pathan had to make quick decisions without being able to revise his earlier choices.

Irfan Pathan’s blind ranking of current ODI batters

Pathan’s final list featured a mix of experienced campaigners and players who have become important figures in international cricket.

The first name presented to Pathan was Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran, whom he placed at eighth. Australia’s Travis Head followed and received the sixth position.

Pathan then had to rank Rohit Sharma and chose third place for the former India captain. Shubman Gill came next and was assigned the second position.

New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell was placed fourth, while West Indies captain Shai Hope occupied seventh. England’s Harry Brook was given the fifth position.

When Virat’s name appeared at the end, Pathan knew exactly where he wanted to place the Indian batting superstar. He reserved the No.1 position for Virat, completing a ranking that had three Indian players at the top.

Why Virat Kohli finished at No.1?

Kohli’s position at the top is hardly surprising given his remarkable ODI record and consistency over the years. The former India captain has built a reputation for delivering in high-pressure situations, particularly during run chases.

According to the latest career figures featured in the report, Kohli has scored 15,190 runs in 320 ODI matches, including 55 centuries and 80 half-centuries, at an average of 58.64.

Gill’s inclusion at No.2 also reflects his rapid rise in the format. The Indian captain has accumulated 3,750 runs in 73 ODIs, averaging 62.50, with 11 centuries and 20 fifties.

Rohit, meanwhile, remains one of the most destructive ODI openers of his generation. He has scored 12,143 runs in 294 matches, including 35 hundreds and 63 half-centuries.

Pathan’s ranking differs from the latest ICC ODI rankings

Interestingly, Pathan’s personal ranking does not completely match the official ICC list. In the ICC men’s ODI batting rankings updated on November 10, 2026, Gill occupies the top position, followed by Mitchell and Kohli.

Rohit is fourth, while Zadran is fifth. This highlights the difference between a former player’s assessment of current batting quality and a statistical ranking based on performances.

Pathan’s challenge has therefore offered fans another talking point, especially with Kohli, Gill and Rohit occupying the top three places in his selection.