Team India could become the No. 1 team in ODI cricket in a year in which they are set to host the ICC Men’s 50-over World Cup at home. Rohit Sharma’s men clinched the three-match ODI series 2-0 against New Zealand with a comprehensive win in the second ODI in Raipur on Saturday (January 21).
They would like to complete a whitewash against the Black Caps in the 3rd ODI at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Tuesday (January 24). A win in the third ODI would help them overtake both New Zealand and England at the No. 1 spot in the ICC men’s ODI rankings. If they complete the whitewash at home after beating Sri Lanka 3-0 earlier this month, it would be their second win in a row.
Prior to this match, New Zealand were holding the top spot with 115 rating points. India is fourth with 111 rating points, Australia third with 112 rating points and England second with 113 rating points. New Zealand are in second place with 113 rating points and 3166 total points after losing to India by eight wickets. With 113 rating points, England and India are ranked first and third respectively.
ICC confirmed that if India beat New Zealand in the 3rd ODI, India will become No.1 in the rankings. – Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 22, 2023
India can hope to retain that top spot Much depends on the performance of ODI world champions England in the three-match series against South Africa for the time being. If India achieves this feat, it will become the No. 1 team in T20 and ODI at the same time.
Meanwhile, former India opener Wasim Jaffer believes that keeping the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in mind, the key players of the team should play Ranji Trophy instead of playing a poor game against New Zealand at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Tuesday. Must be included in the next round of the trophy. ,
India have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, which makes Tuesday’s match a dead rubber. Incidentally, the final round of league matches in Ranji Trophy 2022-23 will begin on the same day.
While Virat Kohli and KL Rahul last played a Test match in December 2022 against Bangladesh, Rohit Sharma was last seen playing in the red-ball format in March 2022 against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru. The likes of Cheteshwar Pujara and Jaydev Unadkat are playing for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia starting February 9 in Nagpur.
“I think it (playing in the next round of Ranji Trophy) will mean a lot. If they can maybe play one game – two innings in a Ranji game – that would definitely help. No matter how experienced you are, you definitely need that game time, especially in red ball cricket. You don’t want to be undercooked when you play the first Test.
“It’s a big series from all points of view – be it the World Test Championship (WTC) final that India can enter or even becoming the number one Test team in the world. India need to do everything they can. So they are ready for that first Test match. Virat Kohli hasn’t played Test cricket for a while; Rohit and many other players have too.”
(With IANS inputs)