India Secures Top ODI Rankings Ahead of Home World Cup
Following a convincing win against Australia in the second ODI at Indore, India is set to enter the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 with an immense boost in momentum.
India’s victory in Indore has propelled them to the summit of the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings, solidifying their position as the No. 1 team just before the marquee event on their home turf. The Men in Blue needed at least two wins in the series to claim the top spot ahead of the World Cup, a feat they have now achieved.
The latest rankings place India at the pinnacle with 117 rating points, while Pakistan follows closely at second place with 115 rating points. Australia has dropped to the third position with 110 points after the recent series against India.
This marks only the second instance in men’s cricketing history where a team has managed to achieve the No. 1 ranking across all formats. Previously, South Africa had achieved this milestone back in August 2012.
India sealed their top-ranking status by clinching a comprehensive victory in the second ODI, showcasing an exceptional all-round performance.
In the match, India batted aggressively after winning the toss and opting to bat first. Shubman Gill (104) and Shreyas Iyer (105) orchestrated a magnificent 200-run partnership, setting a formidable foundation for India. Suryakumar Yadav’s quickfire 72*, along with contributions from KL Rahul (52) and Ishan Kishan (31), propelled India to 399/5, their highest-ever total against Australia.
Defending their colossal total, India’s bowlers displayed exceptional skill. Prasidh Krishna dismantled Australia’s top order with two quick wickets. Despite a rain interruption, Australia was set a revised target of 317 from 33 overs. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja starred with the ball, picking crucial wickets to put India in a commanding position. Although a spirited partnership between Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott added excitement, Mohammed Shami and Jadeja’s timely strikes secured India’s series-clinching victory.
With a 2-0 series lead, India is brimming with confidence as they head into the upcoming World Cup campaign, fueled by their recent stellar performances across all facets of the game.
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