Whenever a player starts playing for his country, his main dream is to become the best in the world. So, whenever a new bowler debuts for India, his dream would be to be the best bowler in the world. In short, that bowler wants to achieve the number one ranking in whichever format he plays. But this isn’t as easy as it sounds. Achieving the number one ranking is a really difficult task.
Traditionally, India has been a batting country and there haven’t been many bowlers who have prospered at the highest level. Even if the Indian bowlers achieve the number one ICC ODI ranking, they don’t get enough credit. There are only five Indian bowlers who have managed to be number one in the ODI format. So let us have a look at the 6 Indian bowlers who have achieved number one in ICC ODI rankings.
6. Maninder Singh in 1987
Maninder Singh is the first among the five Indian bowlers to reach number one in ICC ODI rankings. The left-arm orthodox spinner played 59 ODI matches for India, and he picked 66 wickets at an average of 31.3 and an economy rate of 3.96 with one four-wicket haul to his name.
He reached the number one ranking in 1987 while playing against West Indies. He is the highest-rated Indian bowler in the ODI format in the ICC ODI ratings. He reached the rating of 851 which is the highest by an Indian bowler. It was a great moment for Indian cricket as Maninder Singh was ranked number one in the world.
5. Kapil Dev in 1989
Kapil Dev became the first Indian pacer to reach the peak of the ICC ODI rankings. Kapil Dev, who is India’s first World Cup-winning captain and one of the finest all-rounders to have played the game, has picked up 235 wickets in 225 matches at an average of 27.45 and an economy rate of 3.72.
He has one five-wicket haul and three four-wicket hauls to his name. He reached a rating of 845 in his ODI career, which is the second-highest by an Indian bowler. Kapil Dev surely deserved to be No.1 in the world.
4. Anil Kumble in 1996
Anil Kumble is one of the Indian bowlers to be number one in the ICC ODI rankings. The Indian leg-spinner who is the highest wicket-taker for India in the Test format has picked up 337 wickets in 271 ODIs at an average of 30.9 and an economy rate of 4.31.
He has eight four-wicket-hauls and two five-wicket hauls to his name. He reached the number one ranking in 1996. At the same time, he had 798 rating points, which are the highest for him. Kumble is one of the Indian greats.
3. Ravindra Jadeja in 2013
Ravindra Jadeja was the fourth Indian bowler to reach the number one ranking in the ODI format. Jadeja has played 168 ODI matches and has picked up 188 wickets at an average of 37.36 and an economy rate of 4.93.
The Indian all-rounder reached the number one ranking in 2013. His highest rating as a bowler came in the same period when he had 738 rating points. Jadeja is one of the key all-rounders for India across three formats.
2. Jasprit Bumrah in 2018
Jasprit Bumrah is only the second Indian pacer and one of the five Indian bowlers to achieve number one in ICC ODI rankings. Bumrah has played 67 ODIs, and he has picked up 108 wickets at an average of 25.33 and an economy rate of 4.66.
He reached the number one ranking in 2018, and he was phenomenal for India in the 2019 World Cup. Bumrah had 841 rating points in 2018 which is the third-highest for an Indian. Jasprit Bumrah is the premier fast bowler for India across formats.
1. Mohammed Siraj in 2023
The latest to join this list is Mohammed Siraj. The Hyderabad pacer has been having a fine time in the last couple of months in the ODI format.
He has been consistently taking wickets in the powerplay. The cricketer has also excelled in taking scalps in other phases of the game. Hence, he reached the No.1 spot in January 2023.
