Indian left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav holds on to the No. 3 position in the latest ICC ODI rankings for spinners, while South African spinner Keshav Maharaj remains at the number one spot, closely followed by Afghanistan‘s Rashid Khan at the second. Indian bowlers are also showing a good performance: Jasprit Bumrah is at No. 8 and Mohammed Siraj at No. 10 in the top 10 of the rankings. Well, as the Indian team prepares for yet another grueling Test series against New Zealand, already 0-1 down in the series and on its final tour of Australia with much going its way, the situation of the veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami, who is recovering from surgery, may mark the bellwether for the overall hopes of this Indian team in the upcoming ICC World Test Championship.
Kuldeep Yadav Remains High in Rankings Among Top Bowlers
Kuldeep Yadav has retained the third position. Yet South Africa‘s Keshav Maharaj and Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan are holding the top two positions. Kuldeep Yadav has traveled a long way to become one of the elite bowlers in the history as he leads the Indian team throughout the limited-overs formats. His ability to deceive batsmen with spin and guile has enabled him to prosper for personal gain and also helped the team to achieve in the overall structure.
In addition to Kuldeep, there are two more bowlers from India that feature in the top ten-indeed, in general-they finish one and two for Jasprit Bumrah at eighth and Mohammed Siraj at tenth. This shows just how much greater in depth Indian bowling is than their batting. As significant as it is to Indian chances of being competitive in international cricket, it’s hard not to look at the also-returning Mohammed Shami and note the chief issue that India still grapples with: how to maintain a strong bowling attack.
Indian Team Focus on Test Cricket
The Indian cricket team has shifted focus towards red-ball cricket, gearing up for ICC World Test Championship. Since the ODI World Cup, the side has played only six ODIs — two wins, three losses, and one tie. It is a strategic pivot; focus seems to be tilted towards securing a third consecutive final appearance in the WTC. Currently, India is playing a three-match Test series against New Zealand, which they have already lost 0-1. This adds pressure to perform and bounce back in the remaining matches.
The next tour for India will be in Australia, where they have to play a very vital five-match Test series from 22nd November in Perth. This series is crucial for India’s hopes in the WTC final and they will be praying for the return of Shami to strengthen their bowling arsenal. Shami had recently declared himself pain-free after ankle surgery and wants to come into form in the Ranji Trophy before the all-important tour. His experience and skill will be vital as India face a pretty tough Australian side in their own backyard.
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