Back-to-back defeats at the hands of India in the ongoing ODI series has cost New Zealand heavily as Black Caps have lost the top spot in the latest ICC men's ODI team rankings. The defending ODI champions England have again surged to the summit of rankings, thanks to the eight-wicket thrashing of New Zealand against India in Raipur. Meanwhile, India are on cusp of becoming no.1 in the ODI chart if they manage to win the three-match ODI series against New Zealand 3-0.
Before the second ODI defeat against India, New Zealand were sitting at the pinnacle of the ODI rankings with 115 rating points while England were second with 113 points. Australia and India were third and fourth in the standing with 112 and 111 rating points respectively.
But the back-to-back thrashing has pushed New Zealand to second with 113 rating points and 3166 overall points. Meanwhile, England and India are ranked first and third respectively with 113 rating points each.
India have been dominant in the ODI series so far, winning a high-scoring thriller in Hyderabad in the series opener. India posted 349 for 8, riding on a double hundred from Shubman Gill. Then, beaming with confidence, Rohit Sharma's brigade bulldozed New Zealand by eight wickets in the second ODI in Raipur on Saturday (January 21) and with this they sealed the series 2-0 with a match to spare.
India's sensational bowling attack led by star pacer Mohammed Shami's accurate bowling kept New Zealand batters in check as the Tom Latham's side was bundled for just 110. Shami was India's pick of the bowlers as he bowled an exceptional spell of 3/18. Chasing a lowly target of 111, skipper Rohit cracked a 50-ball 51 to win the match in the 21st over.
