India dethrone Pakistan as top-ranked ODI team with 5-wicket win over Australia in Mohali
India displaced Pakistan to reach the top of the ICC ODI rankings after their five-wicket win over.
Australia in the first ODI of the three-match series in Mohali on Friday. India (116 rating points) displaced their arch-rivals Pakistan (115) at the top of the rankings after the win in the first ODI. Australia remain third but the gap between the top two has now widened after they dropped two points to 111.
India cruised to a five-wicket victory over Australia in the first ODI to achieve the feat. Mohammed Shami’s five-wicket haul was the highlight of their bowling innings after stand-in skipper KL Rahul opted to field first. In reply, Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad scored a fifty each and stitched a 142-run opening stand. Despite losing a few quick wickets, fifties from Rahul and Surykumar Yadav held the fort and guided the hosts to victory.
It has been a scramble at the top of the ODI Team Rankings lately with India, Pakistan and Australia all in contention for the top spot during the recently-concluded Asia Cup and Australia’s ODI series against South Africa. India, however, need to win the three-match ODI series against Australia by a margin of 2-1 to head into the ODI World Cup as the No.1 ranked side. Pakistan’s loss to Sri Lanka in the final Super Fours match of the Asia Cup 2023 was a huge setback for their chances of retaining the top spot in the ODI rankings.
As a result of the defeat, Australia no longer stand a chance to be the No.1 team heading into the World Cup. However, Pakistan could still go to the top if Australia win the remaining two matches. India remain in the box seat now, with a series win guaranteeing them the top spot heading into the marquee event at home.
India’s dominance now extends across all formats with them already occupying the No.1 spot in Tests and T20Is. This is only the second time in men’s cricketing history that a side has achieved the No.1 ranking across the formats. Prior to this, only South Africa had achieved the feat back in August 2012.