In a historic moment for Indian cricket, the Men in Blue have achieved the No. 1 spot in all three formats – Test, ODI, and T20I. This achievement is significant for several reasons, as it not only reflects India’s consistency and dominance in world cricket but also highlights the team’s remarkable depth and versatility.
After India’s resounding victory against Australia in the first Test of the series, the Indian cricket team has now become the top-ranked team in all three formats of the game. The victory in Nagpur took India to the top of the ICC’s Test rankings, making them the No. 1 ranked team in all three formats of the game.
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The journey to the top began with India’s consistent performances in the T20I format, where they have held the top spot for months. The team’s success in the ODI format, including their recent series win against New Zealand, propelled them to the No. 1 position, overtaking their fierce rivals Australia. India’s latest victory over Australia in Nagpur Test was the final piece of the puzzle, making them the second team ever and the first Asian team to top the rankings in all three formats simultaneously.
Breaking Down India’s Rise to No. 1 Across All Formats: The Road to Dominance
The Indian team’s achievement is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and sheer talent. Led by Rohit Sharma, the team boasts an impressive roster of players, each of whom has played a crucial role in their success across formats. The likes of Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja have been instrumental in India’s rise to the top, while the emergence of young talents like Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel has added to the team’s depth and versatility.
The ICC rankings released after the Nagpur Test show that India has leapfrogged over Pat Cummins-led Australia in Test cricket to have a ranking of 115 points, compared to Australia’s 111 points. England is in third position with 106 ranking points. In the ODI format, India is already the No. 1 team with 114 points, and in the T20 format, India is also the top-ranked team with 267 points.
Let’s take a closer look at how some of India’s star performers fared in the Nagpur Test and how their performances affected their ICC rankings.
- R Ashwin – The Indian off-spinner was the pick of the bowlers in the Nagpur Test, taking eight wickets in the match. His excellent performance has helped him rise to second place in the Test bowling rankings, just 21 rating points behind Pat Cummins. Jasprit Bumrah, who has been ruled out of the four-match Test series, is the fifth-ranked bowler in the rankings with 803 points.
- Ravindra Jadeja – The all-rounder had an excellent game with both bat and ball. He took seven wickets in the match, including the prized wickets of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, and scored a crucial 70 runs in India’s first innings. As a result, he has stayed on top of the rankings for all-rounders and moved up four spots to 16th among bowlers.
- Rohit Sharma – The Indian opener played a crucial role in India’s victory, scoring a brilliant 120 in the first innings. His innings has helped him jump two spots to eighth among Test batters.
- Axar Patel – The left-arm spinner played a vital role with the bat, scoring his highest Test score of 84, which took him up six places to seventh in the all-rounders’ rankings.
Australia, on the other hand, had a dismal outing in the Nagpur Test. While Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith, who were arguably Australia’s best batters in the match, retained their spots at No. 1 and No. 2 in the batting charts, openers Usman Khawaja and David Warner lost ground after twin failures in Nagpur. Khawaja went down two places from eighth to tenth, while Warner dropped six spots to 20th.
The victory in Nagpur has not only taken India to the top of the rankings in all three formats but has also given them a chance to qualify for the World Test Championship final in June. India needs to win the series against Australia 3-1 or 3-0 to make the final.
India’s rise to the top of the rankings in all three formats of the game is a remarkable achievement and a testament to the team’s hard work and dedication. The Indian cricket team will now look to build on their success and maintain their position at the top of the rankings. With several key players in top form, India is well placed to achieve further success in the upcoming Test matches and tournaments.
Looking ahead, the Indian team faces numerous challenges, including the ongoing Test series against Australia and the upcoming T20 World Cup. However, their recent success has put them in a strong position to tackle these challenges, and they will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with in the future.
India’s achievement of becoming the No. 1 ranked team in all three formats is a historic moment for the country’s cricketing fraternity. The team’s consistency, depth, and versatility have been crucial in their success, and they have set a new benchmark for excellence in world cricket. With numerous challenges ahead, the Indian team will undoubtedly face new obstacles and setbacks, but their recent triumph has demonstrated their ability to overcome adversity and achieve greatness.
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