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Under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, the Indian cricket team solidified their position at the top of the ICC Men’s ODI Rankings following a convincing victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the 12th match of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 on Saturday, October 14,
India’s “Men in Blue” extended their winning streak with a convincing third consecutive victory in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. However, this encounter presented Pakistan with an opportunity not only to secure their first ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup win over India but also to overtake their neighbours in the ODI rankings.
Nonetheless, India’s comfortable seven-wicket win ensured they retained their top ranking, while also extending their World Cup winning streak against Pakistan to 8-0. The Indian team has exhibited superb form, having triumphed over strong teams like Australia and Pakistan in their first three matches. They are determined to end their prolonged quest for an ICC trophy in this edition.
Despite their defeat, Pakistan maintains their second place in the rankings, with in-form South Africa occupying the third spot. Australia, after a tough start to the tournament with back-to-back losses, has dropped to fourth place. New Zealand rounds out the top five, while the defending World Cup champions, England, are in sixth place.
The competition for the top spot intensified in the weeks leading up to the marquee tournament, with India, Pakistan, and Australia emerging as the frontrunners. However, the Indian team’s impressive form in all aspects of the game against Babar Azam’s Pakistan positioned them for a strong tournament.
Regarding the match, India chose to bowl first after winning the toss and successfully bowled Pakistan out for a mere 191 runs in 42.5 overs. In pursuit of the target, India faced no significant challenges. Rohit Sharma led from the front with a half-century, guiding his team closer to victory before being dismissed for 86.
Shreyas Iyer contributed with a half-century of his own and sealed the match with a boundary in the 30.3 overs, with seven wickets in hand. India’s “Men in Blue” will face Bangladesh in their next match of the World Cup ’23 in Pune on October 19, aiming to extend their world No.1 status and maintain their winning momentum.
Meanwhile, Pakistan will seek to rebound from Saturday’s loss, with hopes of securing another encounter against their neighbours later in the competition.
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