ICC ODI Rankings: India consolidate third place after series win
India’s outstanding five-wicket win over England in the series-deciding third ODI at Manchester on Sunday, July 17 has helped them tremendously in boosting their place in the ICC ODI team rankings. By virtue of this big victory, the Rohit Sharma-led side has been able to maintain its position at the third spot in the latest rankings.
The Men in Blue are one spot ahead of arch-rivals Pakistan, who are at the fourth position with 106 rating points. However, it is to be noted that India are just three points ahead of Pakistan with 109 rating points to their tally.
New Zealand top this list with a rating of 128 points while the reigning ODI world champions England retain the second spot despite the recent series loss with 121 points to their tally.
India finish their England tour on a high
Notably, Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who took a six-wicket haul in the series opener, was ruled out of this contest due to a niggle and Mohammed Siraj was named as his replacement. The pacer made a good first impression with a double-wicket maiden, removing Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow for ducks.
A fighting 60 from skipper Jos Buttler and some handy contributions from Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Liam Livingstone, and Craig Overton helped England post 259 on the board. Hardik Pandya (4/24) and Yuzvendra Chahal (3/60) starred with the ball for India.
In reply, the Men in Blue lost their top order with hardly anything on the board before Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya carried out the rescue act with a 133-run stand for the fifth wicket. Pant got a reprieve of a missed stumping and he made the England bowlers pay for it with his attacking brand of cricket.
The southpaw scored his maiden ODI century and completed the formalities when he struck David Willey for five consecutive fours in an over before hitting the winning boundary off Joe Root in the 43rd over to remain unbeaten on 125 off 113 balls. Thus, India registered their first ODI series triumph on English soil after 2014.
