India Pip Pakistan, Become Number 1 Ranked ODI Team Ahead of World Cup; Reign Supreme in All Formats

KL Rahul-led Indian cricket team registered a clinical five-wicket win over Australia and the Men in Blue were rewarded with a handsome return as they climbed to the top of ICC’s ODI Rankings, replacing Pakistan at the top of the pile. India became only the second team after South Africa to become the number 1 ranked team across all formats at the same time, and they are also the first Asian team to achieve the rare feat.

Having taken a 1-0 win in the ODI series on September 22 in Mohali, India climbed to the top of ICC’s ODI rankings with 116 rating points as they went past Pakistan’s tally of 115 rating points.

Australia are third in the ODI rankings but the defeat saw them fall down in the pecking order with 111 rating points.

After winning the Asia Cup 2023 recently, becoming the number 1 ranked team in all formats comes as a huge success for the Men in Blue, particularly ahead of the upcoming ODI World Cup at home next month.

ALSO READ| Suryakumar Yadav Helps India Tick Another Box Ahead of ODI World Cup 2023

Only South Africa achieved the rare feat of being crowned as the number 1 team in all formats back in 2012, but the Indian team have etched their names in the history books.

The Men in Blue have been tussling with Pakistan and Australia for the top spot in ODIs for a while even as they were sitting at the top of the pile in the Tests and T20I rankings.

After winning the first ODI, India have a chance of winning the series in Indore’s Holkar Stadium on September 24 which would help the hosts of the World Cup go into the marquee tournament sitting at the top of the ICC rankings.

Not only does the Indian team sit pretty atop the ICC rankings in all formats, the news comes after Mohammed Siraj reclaimed the top spot in ODI bowlers’ rankings, whereas Shubman Gill is ranked number 2 in batsmen’s rankings.

ALSO READ| Five-star Mohammed Shami Caps a Complete Bowling Show

Suryakumar Yadav is the number 1 ranked T20I batter since the last T20 World Cup, whereas the number 2 ranked T20I all-rounder is Hardik Pandya.

Ravindra Jadeja is the top-ranked all-rounder in Test cricket, while he’s number 3 in bowler’s rankings in the longest format behind Ravichandran Ashwin who is number 1 and made his comeback in ODI cricket too after a long gap picking a wicket on his return.