NEW DELHI: In a dazzling display of cricketing prowess, Mohammed Siraj has ascended to the summit of the ICC ODI rankings, emerging as the undisputed world number-one bowler. This meteoric rise follows his sensational performance during the gripping Asia Cup 2023. The Indian speedster, hailing from Hyderabad, left spectators in awe as he scalped a staggering 10 wickets at an astonishingly low average of 12.2.

The pinnacle of his spellbinding performance came when he conjured a cricketing masterpiece by taking an extraordinary 6 for 21 against Sri Lanka in the grand finale. India, under Siraj's magical influence, bulldozed Sri Lanka by a resounding 10 wickets, hoisting the Asia Cup for an unprecedented eighth time.

Siraj, a relentless force with the new ball, unleashed a devastating onslaught upon the Sri Lankan top order, dismantling it with finesse. Notably, he etched his name in the annals of Indian cricket history by becoming the first Indian bowler ever to capture four wickets in a single over on the international stage.

This remarkable achievement catapults Siraj back to the pinnacle of ODI bowling, a spot he had previously occupied in January of this year, only to be momentarily displaced by the formidable Josh Hazlewood in March. Now, he stands tall once again as the world's premier ODI bowler.

Meanwhile, Keshav Maharaj, the spinner from South Africa, has orchestrated a splendid resurgence, ascending to the 15th spot in the rankings—a staggering 10 places higher than his previous career-best ranking. Maharaj's virtuoso performances played a pivotal role in South Africa's thrilling 3-2 ODI series victory over Australia. He mesmerized cricket enthusiasts by snaring eight crucial wickets during the series, including a match-defining four-wicket haul in the fifth and final ODI.

The Afghan spin duo of Mujeeb-ur Rahman and Rashid Khan also enjoyed substantial climbs in the bowling charts, securing the 4th and 5th positions, respectively, further cementing their status as spin maestros on the international stage.

Shifting our focus to the batting realm, South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen and England's Dawid Malan have made remarkable strides in the rankings, riding on the back of outstanding performances against Australia and New Zealand, respectively. Klaasen etched his name into cricketing folklore with a scintillating 174-run knock against Australia in the fifth ODI in Centurion, an exceptional feat that propelled him into the elite top 10 for the first time in his career.

Malan, on the other hand, has reached the pinnacle of his batting prowess, securing a career-best 13th position in the rankings. He did so by amassing an impressive tally of 277 runs in the three matches he participated in during the series against New Zealand.

The indomitable English all-rounder, Ben Stokes, is also on the rise, gaining 13 positions in the rankings to settle in the 36th spot. Stokes etched his name into history by notching England's highest-ever ODI score of 182 at The Oval, a performance that dazzled cricket enthusiasts around the globe.

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