India crowned as number one in all three formats after beating Australia
India beat Australia by five wickets in the first ODI of the three-match series on Friday, September 22 at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali. After inviting Australia to bat first, the KL Rahul-led side bundled them out for 276 as Mohammed Shami registered his best ODI bowling figures (5/51, 10 overs). In reply, India comfortably chased down the target in 48.4 overs with half-centuries from Ruturaj Gaikwad (71 off 77), Shubman Gill (74 off 63), KL Rahul (58* off 63) and Suryakumar Yadav (50 off 49).
Courtesy of their win, India took a 1-0 lead in the series and also rose to the top of the ICC ODI team rankings. The Men in Blue dethroned arch-rivals Pakistan (115 ratings) from the top spot with 116 ratings to their name. Furthermore, the Asian Champions are also the number one ranked team in T20Is with 264 ratings and in Tests as well with 118 ratings. Hence, India achieved the unique feat of becoming the first Asian team to get to the top of the ICC rankings in all three formats.
Several Indian players also sit on the top spot in the player’s rankings as well to assert India’s dominance on the cricketing world.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is the number-one ranked Test bowler with 879 ratings to his name while Ravindra Jadeja is the number one all-rounder in Tests with 455 ratings.
India need to win the series by 2-1 to retain their number one rank
Mohammed Siraj recently climbed to the top of the ODI bowling rankings after his stellar show in the Asia Cup final vs Sri Lanka. The right-arm seamer has 694 ratings to his name. Furthermore, Suryakumar Yadav sits on top of the T20I batters rankings with 889 ratings to his name.
Meanwhile, the Men-in-Blue will be eager to retain their top spot by winning the second ODI as well, which will be played on Sunday, September 24 at Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore. India will enter the ODI World Cup 2023 as the number-one ranked team if they beat Australia by 2-1 in the series.
