The first eight matches of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, featuring ten centuries, have caused a significant reshuffle in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings.
De Kock and Kohli Ascend in Batting Rankings
South African opener De Kock’s scintillating century against Sri Lanka has propelled him one spot higher to sixth in the batting rankings. This performance comes as De Kock aims to leave a lasting impression in his final 50-over tournament before retiring from the format.
Hot on De Kock’s trail is India’s star player, Kohli, who now sits in seventh place. Kohli’s pivotal 85-run knock against Australia in the tournament’s opening match has elevated him two places in the rankings.
Malan’s Rapid Century Boosts Ranking
England’s opener, Malan, has made a significant leap in the rankings. His swift 140-run innings against Bangladesh has catapulted him seven places higher to eighth in the batting rankings. Malan’s career-best rating of 711 puts him just four points behind Kohli and six points ahead of Pakistan’s Imam-ul-Haq, who has slipped three spots to ninth.
Rahul and Markram Benefit from Run-Heavy Starts
India’s keeper-batter KL Rahul and South Africa’s all-rounder Aiden Markram have also seen their rankings improve after scoring heavily in the early stages of the Cricket World Cup. Rahul has jumped 15 spots to 19th, while Markram has risen 11 places to 21st.
Babar Azam and Shubman Gill Maintain Top Spots
Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, retains the top spot in the ODI batting rankings despite modest scores against Sri Lanka and the Netherlands. India’s young talent, Shubman Gill, holds onto second place, even while sidelined due to illness.
Top Bowlers Make Their Mark
The tournament’s top bowlers have also made their presence felt. Australia’s pacer Josh Hazlewood now solely occupies the top spot in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Bowling Rankings, having previously shared the position with Mohammed Siraj. Hazlewood’s rating points jumped from 669 to 682 after his 3/38 performance against India.
Spinners Jadeja and Kuldeep Shine for India
India’s spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav played crucial roles in their team’s six-wicket victory over Australia. Kuldeep has moved up three places to eighth after taking 2/42, while Jadeja’s 3/28 performance has seen him leap 22 spots, although he remains outside the top-40 bowlers.
New Zealand Quick Bowlers Rise in Rankings
New Zealand’s fast bowlers Trent Boult and Matt Henry have also improved their positions within the top-10. Boult has moved up two spots to third, while Henry has climbed four spots to fifth.
All-Rounder Rankings See Shakib Al Hasan at the Top
Bangladesh’s captain, Shakib Al Hasan, continues to lead the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI All-rounder Rankings after taking four wickets in the first two matches. Mitchell Santner is the only all-rounder to climb higher within the top-10, following his player-of-the-match performance against the Netherlands.