Dehli September 25 2023 : Courtesy of their resounding win over Australia in the second ODI at Indore, India will go into the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 with momentum on their side.
India’s win in Indore has ensured that they go into the Cricket World Cup as the No. 1 side in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings. Before the start of the series, The Men in Blue needed at least two wins to go into the marquee event at home at the top.
India reached the ODI Rankings summit after winning the first ODI against Australia at Mohali. They will now continue to reign supreme across all formats as the No.1 team, having already occupied the top spot in Tests and T20Is.
India are placed at the top spot with 117 rating points, while Pakistan sit at second with 115 rating points. Australia, on the other hand, slipped further and are third with 110 points.
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.
India needed to win the second ODI to ensure their reign at the top of the rankings continues and they did it in some style with a thorough all-round performance.
Australia won the toss and elected to field in the second ODI. India took advantage of a good batting wicket to go all guns blazing. Shubman Gill (104) and Shreyas Iyer (105) crafted a brilliant 200-run stand to set a strong platform for India, before Suryakumar Yadav (72*), KL Rahul (52) and Ishan Kishan (31) helped them to 399/5.
Suryakumar’s half-century came off just 24 balls, which was the fastest fifty by an Indian player against Australia. India finished at 399/5, their highest-ever total against Australia.
In response, Australia lost two early wickets to Prasidh Krishna. David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne then came together to stabilise the innings. A break in rain reduced the target to 317 off 33 overs.
Australia went on the attack before Ravichandran Ashwin scalped three in his consecutive overs, which included the wickets of the well-set Warner and Labuschagne. Cameron Green’s lazy run-out was sandwiched between two wickets by Ravindra Jadeja.
The ninth-wicket pair of Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott entertained everyone and added 77 runs off just 44 balls. Mohammed Shami eventually ended the partnership and Jadeja scalped the final wicket to give India an unassailable 2-0 series lead.
