India makes history! No.1 in ODIs, Tests, and T20Is after a thrilling victory over Australia.
India has achieved a remarkable triumph by overpowering Australia, securing its position as the world No.1 team in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and making history by ranking first across all formats. This victory has allowed India to surpass Pakistan, the previous leader in the rankings.
India had a chance to achieve this milestone earlier at the Asia Cup 2023, but an unexpected defeat to Bangladesh hindered them from achieving this significant piece of ranking history. Even though they secured a title win against Sri Lanka, they could not reach the top spot, allowing Pakistan to reclaim it. However, their recent victory against Australia in Mohali, by five wickets, has finally enabled them to attain the world No.1 rank in ODIs.
The match saw a jubilant celebration by Indian players. Mohammed Shami’s outstanding performance, recording his career-best 5 for 51, played a crucial role in restricting Australia to 276. This match was also noteworthy for Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad's extraordinary 142-run opening stand and Suryakumar Yadav’s first ODI fifty in 590 days. These outstanding individual efforts ensured India successfully chased the target, allowing them to lead the three-match series 1-0.
India, now with 116 rating points, has edged past Pakistan who has 115 points, to claim the top spot in ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings. Conversely, Australia has descended to the third spot with 111 points. Australia had the opportunity to rise to the top but losing three consecutive matches against South Africa squandered their chance to become the No.1 ranked side before the upcoming World Cup in India.
India, holding the top spots in Tests and T20Is already, is now the world No.1 ranked side across all formats. This accomplishment is rare, with the only precedent being set by South Africa in August 2012. In Tests, India has maintained consistency, reaching the World Test Championship Final for the second consecutive time, and in T20Is, they reached the semis in the 2022 World Cup in Australia, proving their mettle in bilateral contests by losing only one of their 14 series since the 2021 T20 World Cup.
However, the prospect of Pakistan reclaiming the top spot is still plausible. India must be vigilant, as a win by Australia in the remaining matches could potentially see them losing their newly acquired ranking to Pakistan. Therefore, the Men in Blue need at least one more win to secure their top spot entering the World Cup as the No.1-ranked ODI team.
This unprecedented achievement has not only brought immense pride to the Indian cricket team but has also raised the expectations and excitement of cricket fans globally, as they look forward to seeing more thrilling performances in the forthcoming tournaments.