India becomes No.1 Team in ICC Rankings in all three Cricket formats. Team India had opportunities during the recently concluded Asia Cup 2023 event, but a shocking loss to Bangladesh in the Super Four round denied them an elusive piece of ranking history. Despite their perfectly timed title triumph against Sri Lanka, their first in a multi-nation event in five years, India fell short of the top ICC ranking slot in one-day international cricket, with Pakistan reclaiming it.
However, with a comprehensive five-wicket win over Australia in Mohali on Friday, India dethroned Pakistan to become the new global No. 1 ranked ODI side, achieving a rare accomplishment in rankings history.
In an exciting India vs Australia match, Mohammed Shami put on a stellar performance by taking 5 wickets for just 51 runs. This remarkable achievement marked his second five-wicket haul in ODIs and a historic moment as he became the first Indian fast bowler to achieve this at home in 16 years.
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Shami’s exceptional bowling played a pivotal role in restricting Australia to a total of 276 runs, despite a strong partnership of 94 runs between David Warner and Steve Smith.
India’s response was equally impressive. Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad gave us a thrilling 142-run opening partnership, with both batsmen scoring in the 70s. Suryakumar Yadav also stood out by achieving his first ODI fifty in nearly two years. Thanks to these fantastic performances, India successfully chased down the target with eight balls to spare, securing a vital victory and taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
This win had significant impact on India’s position in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings. With 116 rating points, India claimed the top spot, surpassing their rivals Pakistan, who had 115 points. Meanwhile, Australia slipped to the third position with 111 points.
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Australia had a chance to become the No. 1 team when they led 2-0 against South Africa last week, but three consecutive losses dashed their hopes. With this loss to India, Australia’s chances of becoming the top-ranked side before the World Cup in India faded away.
With this win, India achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the No. 1-ranked team across all formats, adding to their existing top positions in Tests and T20Is. This is only the second time in men’s cricketing history that an international team has held all three No. 1 ranking spots.
India’s consistency in Tests, reaching a second consecutive World Test Championship Final, and their strong T20I performances, including a semifinal appearance in the 2022 World Cup, contributed to this achievement. They have also excelled in bilateral contests, losing only one of their 14 series since the 2021 T20 World Cup.
However, despite their rise to the top spot, India faces a looming threat from Pakistan, who are relying on Australia to help them regain the No. 1 ranking. If Australia manages to win the remaining two matches against India, the hosts could lose their top ranking, allowing Babar Azam’s team to reclaim the top position. The Men in Blue need just one more win not only to seal the series but also to enter the World Cup as the No. 1-ranked ODI team, cementing their status as cricketing champions.
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