India’s victory in the second ODI against Australia in Indore not only secured the series win but also propelled them to the top spot in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings. This achievement comes as a significant boost for the Indian cricket team ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, which will be hosted in India.
The match saw outstanding performances from Indian batsmen, particularly Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, who both scored centuries. Their partnership of 200 runs for the second wicket set the foundation for India’s imposing total of 399/5. This strong batting performance showcased India’s depth and skill in the limited-overs format.
In the chase, Australia faced early setbacks, and despite some resistance from David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne, they couldn’t recover from the early blows. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja took crucial wickets, helping India secure a comfortable victory.
This victory not only gave India the series win but also ensured they would go into the Cricket World Cup as the top-ranked ODI team. With 117 rating points, India leads the rankings, followed closely by Pakistan with 115 points, and Australia in third place with 110 points.
This achievement is historic as it marks only the second time in men’s cricketing history that a side has achieved the No.1 ranking across all formats. The last time this happened was in August 2012, when South Africa held the top spot.
Overall, this win is a testament to the depth and talent in Indian cricket and sets a positive tone for their campaign in the upcoming Cricket World Cup. The team will aim to carry this momentum forward and continue their success in international cricket.
