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.
