Team India players are hugely rewarded for their exceptional performances in the just concluded Sri Lanka ODI series which they won by 3-0. India's batting juggernaut Virat Kohli and star bowler Mohammed Siraj played an instrumental role in India's emphatic series victory over Islanders. While Kohli rode on two tons in the series to rise to fourth in ODI batting rankings, Siraj snared nine wickets in three matches to take a quantum leap to third in the bowlers' lot.
In this way, Kohli has launched his chase to become the Numero Uno in the ODI rankings which is now owned by Pakistan skipper Babar Azam. Kohli, who amassed 283 runs in three matches which saw knocks of 113, 4 and 166, moved from eighth to fourth with 750 points in the latest ODI rankings while Babar still reigns supreme at top with 887 points. Meanwhile South Africa’s star batter Rassie van der Dussen is second in the rankings with 766 points with his teammate Quinton de Kock just behind him on third spot with 759 points. Also Australia’s star southpaw David Warner sits on fifth place with 747 points, just a spot behind India's batting ace. Also, Shubman Gill, who hit a century and a fifty during the series and amassed 207 runs at an average of 69, improved to 10 spots to 26th overall on the rankings for ODI batters.
On the other hand, India's star pacer Siraj, who grabbed a brilliant four-fer in the third ODI against Sri Lanka, took a massive leap from 18th to third in the bowlers' rankings as he also has the opportunity to top the standings if he continues his supreme form in the three-match ODIs against New Zealand.
Siraj rose to his career-best 685 ratings while Kiwi pace spearhead Trent Boult continues to lead the ODI bowlers' rankings with 730 points. Meanwhile Australia's star speedster Josh Hazlewood is hot on heels of Boult with 727 ratings as he sits second on the table.
The Men in Blue will contest against the Kiwis in a three-match ODI series, commencing on the 18th of January in Hyderabad. Leading up to the series opener, India lost Shreyas Iyer to a back injury, ruling him out of the upcoming series. Rajat Patidar has been named the replacement for the injured batter, who will be traveling to the NCA for further assessment. Meanwhile, T20 superstar Suryakumar Yadav is likely to take Iyer's place in the playing XI for the series opener.
