India pacer Mohammed Siraj became the numero uno ODI bowler in the updated rankings released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday (September 20).
Siraj has leapfrogged six spots to displace Australia's Josh Hazlewood from the pole position following his incredible spell in the Asia Cup 2023 final against Sri Lanka.
The right-arm quick ran through the Sri Lankan batting line-up, returning with a six-wicket haul (6/21) to help India clinch the record-extending 8th Asia Cup title.
Siraj finished the continental tournament with 10 wickets at an average of 12.2. This helped him surpass the likes of Hazlewood, Trent Boult, Rashid Khan and Mitchell Starc.
The Afghanistan spin duo of Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid also improved their rankings to No.4 and No.5 respectively. They were the only others to go up in the top 10.
Besides, South Africa’s left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj made significant gains after returning from his injury in the recently held ODI series against Australia at home.
Maharaj’s 4-33 in the fifth ODI gave him eight wickets in the series at 16.87 apiece, at an economy of just 4.07 per over. He is currently at 15th, up ten places from his previous career-high.
In the ICC Men’s ODI Rankings for batters, South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen moved to the top 10 after he produced a whirlwind knock in the fourth ODI versus Australia.
No one has amassed more runs in an ODI innings at a higher strike-rate than Klaasen’s 174 at 209.64 in Centurion. It powered the Proteas to a 164-run win and Klaasen jumped 20 places in the ODI batting rankings. He now occupies the ninth position.
Dawid Malan was scintillating in England’s ODI series against New Zealand, finishing as the highest run-getter with 277 runs at an average of 92.33 and a strike-rate of 105.72. As a result, the southpaw attained a career-best 13th position in the ODI Rankings.
Malan’s compatriot Ben Stokes, who celebrated his ODI comeback with a blistering 182 at The Oval, has reached the 36th place in the batting rankings.
(With ICC Inputs)
