India has achieved a significant milestone in the world of One Day International (ODI) cricket, dethroning Pakistan to become the new No. 1 ranked team. This historic achievement followed India’s impressive victory over Australia in Mohali, marking a rare feat in the annals of cricket rankings.
The journey to this coveted top spot had its twists and turns. During the Asia Cup 2023 tournament, India showcased its prowess but faced an unexpected setback with a shocking defeat to Bangladesh in the Super Four stage, narrowly missing out on securing the top ranking. However, they rallied and secured the title by defeating Sri Lanka, their first multi-nation event trophy in five years.
The pivotal moment arrived on a memorable Friday in Mohali, where India faced Australia. Mohammed Shami played a hero’s role, claiming a career-best 5 for 51, marking his second five-wicket haul in ODIs and the first by an Indian fast bowler at home in 16 years. This remarkable performance helped restrict Australia to a total of 276 runs, despite a strong partnership between David Warner and Steve Smith.
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In response, India’s opening duo of Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad stole the show with a stunning 142-run partnership, both scoring impressive 70s. Suryakumar Yadav also contributed significantly by achieving his first ODI fifty in 590 days.
India accomplished a remarkable feat by achieving a thrilling victory with eight balls to spare, thus taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
This significant win propelled India to the pinnacle of the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings, where they amassed an impressive 116 rating points, edging past their arch-rivals Pakistan, who had previously held 115 points. Meanwhile, Australia experienced a downturn, slipping to the third position with 111 points.
After initially having a golden chance to clinch the leading position with a 2-0 advantage over South Africa, Australia’s prospects turned bleak with a disheartening string of three consecutive defeats. This unfortunate turn of events led to them losing their grip on the coveted top spot, just before the impending World Cup in India.
India’s extraordinary climb to become the No. 1 team in ODIs stands as a momentous milestone. They now hold the pinnacle across the entire spectrum of cricket formats, encompassing Tests and T20Is as well.This accomplishment has been a rarity in men’s cricketing history, with South Africa being the only previous team to achieve this distinction in August 2012.
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In Test cricket, India has demonstrated consistent excellence, reaching a second consecutive World Test Championship Final in June, albeit falling short against Australia. I
In the world of T20 International cricket, India has showcased its impressive capabilities, as demonstrated by their journey to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Australia. Their excellence extends to bilateral contests, where they have achieved outstanding results, suffering only a single series loss out of 14 since the conclusion of the 2021 T20 World Cup.
However, even with their current grip on the top ranking, India faces an impending challenge from Pakistan.
Pakistan’s hopes of reclaiming the top ranking hinge on Australia’s performance in the remaining two matches against India. If Australia manages to win both matches, India could lose the No. 1 ranking, allowing Babar Azam’s Pakistani side to regain the pinnacle. On the other hand, India only needs one win to secure the series and enter the World Cup as the No. 1 ranked ODI team, solidifying their position as a cricketing powerhouse.
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