Riding on the wave of a phenomenal victory against Australia in the second One Day International (ODI) match at Indore, India has confirmed its top position in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings ahead of the highly anticipated ICC Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 starting in ten days.
The Men in Blue have not just scaled the summit in the ODI rankings, but have also maintained their top spot in Test and T20I formats, making them the dominant force in world cricket. This is only the second time a men’s cricket team has achieved the No. 1 ranking across all formats. South Africa was the first to achieve this feat in August 2012.
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The timing couldn’t be more perfect for Team India as they head into the World Cup to be played on home soil. Going into the series against Australia, India needed at least two wins to secure the top position in the rankings, and they delivered in style.
India sits comfortably at the top of the table with 117 rating points, followed by Pakistan with 115 and a struggling Australia at third with 110 points.
During the second ODI, Australia won the toss and chose to field, a decision they would later regret. Indian batsmen Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer put together an explosive 200-run partnership, setting the stage for the middle-order to capitalize. Suryakumar Yadav’s whirlwind half-century came off just 24 balls—setting a new record for the fastest fifty by an Indian against Australia. India ended their innings at an imposing 399/5, their highest-ever total against the Aussies.
In reply, Australia’s batsmen could not keep up with the mounting pressure. Despite a rain delay that lowered their target to 317 off 33 overs, Ravichandran Ashwin’s three-wicket haul and Ravindra Jadeja’s contributions ensured an Indian victory. The partnership of Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott was not enough to salvage the game for Australia, who folded for less than their revised target.
With this comprehensive win and an unassailable 2-0 series lead, India has set the tone for what promises to be an electrifying World Cup. All eyes will be on the Men in Blue as they look to capitalize on this momentum and bring the trophy home.
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