The in-form Indian team becomes No. 1 in all three formats after a thumping win against Australia in the 1st ODI. With that win, the Indian team surpassed the arch-rivals Pakistan in the ODI rankings and sat at the top. Mohammad Shami’s 5 wicket haul, and half-centuries from Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Suryakumar Yadav help the team to achieve target quite easily in the end.
Indian team leading the series 1-0
With the toss won, India elected to bowl first. And M Shami took the wicket of M Marsh in the very first over. Then, Steve Smith and David Warner put on a 94-run stand for the 2nd wicket. But as soon as the latter got out, Australia lost a few wickets in the middle overs and the run rate too was on the lower side. At one stage, Australia were 186 for 5.
Inglis and Stoinis added 62 runs
Wicketkeeper Josh Inglis and Marcus Stoinis added 62 runs for the 6th wicket. And the 20-run last-wicket partnership helps Australia to put 276 on the board.
Easy pickings for the Indian team openers
There was no problem whatsoever when the Indian openers came out to chase the target. 142 runs were added for the first wicket by the pair. Both the batters scored fifties.
Surya and KL got the team over the line
After an opening stand, the Indian team lost a few quick wickets in the middle overs. But the half-centuries from captain KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav helped the team to get over the line. India won the game with 5 wickets and 8 balls left.
Indian team achieved a milestone
With that win, the team India became the No. 1 in the ICC ODI Team Rankings. Team India, with 116 points surpasses Pakistan, who has 115 points currently in ODIs.
However, Pakistan again become No. 1 if Australia wins the remaining two ODIs. As we are writing this article, the Indian team is 260 for 3 after 36 overs. They are looking set to score big in the first inning.
Already at the top in Tests and T20Is
The Indian team is already the No. 1 ranked team in the tests and the T20Is. With 264 points, they are sitting at the top of the T20I rankings. England, with 261 points placed at No. 2.
In Tests, India re just ahead of Australia with 118 points.
Indian team players’ rankings also says something
The players from the Indian team have also done well to be in the top rankings. Whether it is a batter or a bowler or an all-rounder, you can see a few Indians in the ICC Rankings.
Suryakumar Yadav is the No. 1 T20I batter right now in the world. Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma all three are in the top 10 ICC ODI batters’ rankings. That’s a good sign for the Indian team before the WC 2023.
Bowlers are not behind as well
Mohammad Siraj has been bowling exceptionally well in the last two years or so in all three formats. Siraj is the No. 1 bowler in the latest ICC ODI bowlers rankings. R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are the two bowlers in the top 3 ICC Test bowlers rankings.
India became the No. 1 in all formats of Cricket at the same time.
India Became only the 2nd team to achieve this feat
In all three formats at the same time, the Indian team is only the 2nd team to achieve this feat. Before that, South Africa (SA) was the only team to achieve this feat in August 2012.
Jay Shah congratulates the Indian team
The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) secretary, Jay Shah took the social media to congratulate Team India for this big achievement.
Next goal – The ODI World Cup
Now, the next goal for the Indian team is to win the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. They have still searching for the ICC title win since 2013. The Indian team came closer, playing the semi-finals and the finals, but fell short of getting over the line.
They have a very good team and the players are in-form. Let’s see how they do in the CWC 2023.
Indian team squad for the ICC World Cup 2023:-
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel (subject to fitness), Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Mohammad Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Shreyas Iyer
Conclusion
So this is a big achievement for Team India. Becoming No. 1 in all three formats at the same time shows the hard work and the performances of the Indian team over the years.
Let’s see how they do in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. They won the title the last time they hosted the tournament in 2011 (along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh).
