ICC ODI Rankings: Team India reclaim top spot after win vs Australia at Eden Gardens
New Delhi: The Indian cricket team, lead by Virat Kohli clinched the no.1 spot in the ICC ODI ranking after beating Australia by 50- runs in the second ODI of the 5-match series at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Thursday.
Virat Kohli -led side had defeated Australia in the first ODI by 26 runs (D/L). Before the start of second ODI, Team India was placed in the second position behind South Africa, while Australia was ranked third.
The win on Thursday at Eden Gardens enabled India to leapfrog the Proteas, although by decimal points, to emerge as the top-ranked team in the format. In the test format India is currently holding the number-one spot, 15 points ahead of second-placed South Africa.
Chasing a challenging target of 253, Australia were bundled out for 202 after spinners Yuzvendra Chahal (2/34) and chinaman Yadav (3/54) wrecked havoc at the Eden Gardens pitch. Left-arm chinaman Kuldeep Yadav became the third Indian bowler to pick up a hat-trick in ODI helping Team India trash Australia.
Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar wrecked havoc as he dismissed Australia's top order to return with figures of three wickets for 9 runs. Hardik Pandya also contributed with the ball with figures of 2/56.
Steve Smith playing his 100th ODI couldn't guide his team to victory in spite of scoring 59 runs off 76 balls, as rest of the batting lineup crumbled under pressure to some great bowling by Indian bowlers.
