Proteas star rises to the top of the ODI bowling rankings

The musical chairs for the No.1 bowler spot in the ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings continue with a new No.1 crowned for the third time in as many weeks and he is a Proteas player.  

The competitiveness of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 has made it difficult for bowlers to hold on to their top spot.

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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.

Now 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 the Proteas’ 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.

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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 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.

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THE LATEST MEN’S ODI RANKINGS — PROTEAS ON TOP