In the lead-up to the World Cup 2023 semi-finals, the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Bowlers Rankings witnessed another shift, with South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj securing the coveted No.1 position. This marks the third consecutive week of changes at the top, highlighting the intense competition in the tournament.
The dynamic nature of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 has posed challenges for bowlers to maintain their No.1 status. Shaheen Afridi briefly held the position on November 1, only to be surpassed by Mohammed Siraj on November 8. Less than a week later, Keshav Maharaj emerged as the new No.1, climbing from the second position, while Siraj slid to second place.
Maharaj’s ascent to the top spot was propelled by his impressive performance, claiming seven wickets in three matches, including a crucial four-for against New Zealand in Pune. Notably, he troubled India by taking two wickets in a match where the hosts scored 326.
Meanwhile, Glenn Maxwell’s remarkable innings of 201* against Afghanistan propelled him 17 places up in the batting rankings and one spot higher in the all-rounders’ rankings. Mitchell Marsh, after scoring 177* against Bangladesh, also experienced a significant rise, securing the 38th position in the batting rankings.
Shubman Gill continues to lead the batting rankings, having dethroned Babar Azam in the previous week. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma occupy the 4th and 5th spots, with Kohli ascending one position in the latest update.
Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul made notable advancements after stellar performances, each scoring centuries against Netherlands in the final league stage game. Iyer climbed five spots to share the 13th position with Fakhar Zaman, while KL Rahul jumped to 17th from 24th.
As the World Cup progresses to the knockout stages, with India facing New Zealand and South Africa taking on Australia in the semi-finals, further fluctuations in the rankings are anticipated, with seven of the top 10 in both batting and bowling rankings featuring in the crucial matches. The grand finale is scheduled for November 19 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
