IND vs AUS, 1st ODI: India Beat Australia By 5 Wickets; Become No. 1 in All 3 Formats

Mohali: India made a resounding statement ahead of the 2023 World Cup. Fresh from their victory in the 2023 Asia Cup, they have now claimed the coveted top spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) ODI rankings. This comes after a convincing five-wicket win over Australia in the first ODI of three ODIs at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium in Mohali.

With this win, India have ascended to the No. 1 ranking in all three cricket formats. Prior to this victory, India already held the top position in Test and T20I cricket with 264 and 118 points, respectively. However, their triumph in the ODI against Australia has now propelled them to the No. 1 spot in the ODI rankings, displacing Pakistan. Both India and Pakistan were tied at 115 points before the match, with Australia close behind at 113.

India displayed their prowess in the match by restricting Australia to a modest score of 276 after winning the toss and electing to bowl. Mohammed Shami was the standout performer, delivering an exceptional five-wicket haul, claiming crucial wickets such as Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Short, and Sean Abbott.

India’s batting response was equally impressive, as Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shubman Gill stitched a formidable opening partnership of 142 runs. Ruturaj contributed a sublime 71 runs off 77 balls, while Gill added an aggressive 74 runs off 63 balls. Nevertheless, Ruturaj’s dismissal triggered a brief setback as Shreyas Iyer was run out, and Shubman Gill fell to Zampa. Ishan Kishan, unfortunately, failed to capitalize on the opportunity.

However, KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav steered India back on course with an 80-run partnership. SKY silenced doubts about his ODI record with his first half-century in ODI cricket since February 2022. KL Rahul also contributed with an unbeaten half-century.

India’s victory over Australia in this series will enable them to retain their World No. 1 ODI ranking leading into the World Cup, even if they secure a 2-1 series win. The team’s impressive form is setting high expectations as they gear up for the upcoming World Cup.