India Retains Top Spot in ICC ODI Rankings, Leads New Zealand by 5 Points

India retained the top spot in the latest ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings with 118 points, leading New Zealand by five points. Australia remained third with 109 points, while South Africa climbed to fourth, overtaking Pakistan. The rankings are crucial for direct qualification to the 2027 ODI World Cup, with the top eight teams securing berths. Other notable changes include Ireland moving to 11th and the UAE rising to 19th.

Key Points: India Tops ICC ODI Rankings 2027

  • India retains top spot with 118 points
  • New Zealand second with 113 points
  • South Africa climbs to fourth, Pakistan drops to fifth
  • Rankings crucial for direct 2027 World Cup qualification
2 min read

India retains top spot in ICC Men's ODI Rankings

India retains top spot in ICC Men's ODI Rankings with 118 points, leading New Zealand. Australia third, South Africa rises to fourth. Key for 2027 World Cup qualification.

"The rankings carry significant importance in the race for direct qualification to the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027. - ICC"

New Delhi, May 11

The Indian cricket team retained the top spot in the latest ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings following the annual update, maintaining a slender five-point lead over second-placed New Zealand men's national cricket team.

India now have 118 rating points after slipping by one point, while New Zealand are placed second with 113 points. Australia cricket team remained third with 109 points.

The annual rankings update gives full weightage to matches played since May 2025, while games from the previous two years carry a 50 per cent weighting.

South Africa climbed into the top four with 102 points, overtaking the Pakistan men's national cricket team, who dropped to fifth with 98 points.

The rest of the top 10 rankings remained unchanged, with Sri Lankan men's national cricket team at sixth on 96 points, followed by Afghanistan men's national cricket team with 93 and England men's national cricket team on 89 points.

Bangladesh held the ninth position with 84 points, while the West Indies cricket team remained 10th with 74 points, widening the gap between the two teams from six to 10 points after the update.

The rankings carry significant importance in the race for direct qualification to the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027.

The top eight teams in the ODI rankings as of March 31, 2027, will secure direct qualification alongside hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe, who have already qualified automatically.

If South Africa remains in the top eight, the ninth-ranked side could also earn a direct berth for the tournament.

Further down the rankings, the Ireland cricket team moved ahead of the Zimbabwe national cricket team into 11th place with 54 points, while the United States national cricket team climbed to 13th after surpassing the Scotland national cricket team by 46 points to 44.

The United Arab Emirates also improved its standing, moving to 19th after overtaking Canada with 16 points.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
The rankings update always creates some interesting shifts. I think New Zealand being so close is a good thing - keeps India from getting complacent. Also great to see the US in 13th now! Cricket really is growing globally. 🇺🇸🏏
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Vikram M
Nice number 1, but let's not forget - Pakistan dropped to 5th and we're still ahead. That's the real victory, isn't it? 😂 Anyway, what's more important is that top 8 qualification scenario for 2027. South Africa and Zim already in - so 6 more spots up for grabs. West Indies at 10th better watch out, they might miss out again!
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Priya S
I wish they'd focus more on developing young fast bowlers instead of just basking in rankings glory. We have the talent, but bowling stocks in ODIs are getting thin. Also, glad to see Afghanistan maintaining 7th - their spin attack is genuinely world class. 🏏
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James A
Happy for Ireland moving to 11th! They've been putting in the work. But honestly, these rankings are so volatile with the annual update system. One good series and you jump, one bad one and you drop. The 2027 direct qualification system through rankings seems a bit harsh for teams like WI and Ireland who are on the cusp.

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