(Web Desk) – A new World No.1 bowler has been crowned on the eve of the World Cup 2023 semi-finals in the MRF Tyres ICC Men's ODI Bowlers Rankings.
The musical chairs for the No.1 bowler spot in the MRF Tyres ICC Men's ODI Player Rankings continue with a new No.1 crowned for the third time in as many weeks.
The competitiveness of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 has made it difficult for bowlers to hold on to their top spot. On 1 November, Shaheen Afridi claimed the top spot in the rankings but his reign lasted all of one week after Mohammed Siraj toppled him on 8 November.
Less than a week later, a new No.1 emerged with South Africa's Keshav Maharaj climbing the charts to the summit, with the Proteas spinner rising from No.2 while Siraj moved down a spot from the top.
Since the last update last Wednesday, Maharaj picked up seven wickets in three matches, which included a four-for against New Zealand in Pune. He was one of the very few bowlers who troubled India, returning figures of 1/30 when the hosts scored 326. In the final group stage game, the left-arm spinner scalped two wickets against Afghanistan.
Siraj, who scalped six wickets in India's last three matches, isn't too far behind Maharaj with only three rating points separating the two. His compatriots Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav occupy two of the three remaining spots in the Top 5.
In the last week of the group stage action, Glenn Maxwell produced one of the greatest ODI innings of all time. His 201* off 128 balls while chasing against Afghanistan came against all odds when Australia were struggling at 91/7 while chasing 293.
During the innings, Maxwell battled cramps and spasms of his own but remained unbeaten and pulled off one of the greatest heists in World Cup history.
His stupendous innings has helped him climb a whopping 17 spots in the batting charts and one spot on the all-rounders' rankings.
Mitchell Marsh was among other significant gainers as he racked up 177* in Australia's last league stage game against Bangladesh. He too recorded a massive rise in the batting rankings to No.38 (up 11 places).
Shubman Gill continues to lead the way in the batting rankings after dethroning Babar Azam last week. India's batting lynchpins Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma occupy 4th and 5th spots respectively, with the India skipper rising one spot in the latest update.
Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul too have made ground after brilliant performances that were capped off with centuries apiece against Netherlands in the final league stage game. Iyer climbed five spots to equal No.13 along with Fakhar Zaman while KL Rahul jumped to 17th from 24th.
The World Cup now heads into the knockout stages and the rankings could see even more changes come next week with seven of the top 10 in batters and bowlers rankings featuring in the semi-finals.
India are set to face New Zealand at the Wankhede on Wednesday while South Africa take on Australia at the Eden Gardens the day after. The grand finale will take place on 19 November at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.