India’s premier ODI batsmen, including Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and Rohit Sharma, have witnessed a sharp decline in their ICC rankings following a disappointing outing in the first ODI against Australia in Perth. Each player has lost double-digit points, with Gill incurring the steepest drop of 16 points, followed by Iyer (-13), Kohli (-12), and Sharma (-11). This setback occurred during the rain-affected opening match of the series, where India’s batting unit failed to post a competitive score. The Optus Stadium fixture saw Australia win the toss and bowl, restricting India to 136/9 in a reduced 26-over game. The top order, usually a source of strength for India, collapsed under pressure, with Shubman Gill getting out early and Virat Kohli registering a rare duck on Australian soil. Australia subsequently chased down the target with ease, clinching a seven-wicket victory. The implications of these ranking losses are significant, highlighting the importance of performance in crucial matches. The dip suggests a current struggle for form under challenging conditions and raises questions about batting stability as the series progresses. India must find a way to rebound quickly to mitigate further damage to their individual and team standing.
Shubman Gill, Kohli Lead Indian Batters’ Ranking Slump
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