Keshav Maharaj moves to the top of the ODI bowling rankings

Keshav Maharaj moves to the top of the ODI bowling rankings

Proteas spinner Keshav Maharaj has moved to the top of the ICC's ODI bowling rankings for the first time in his career, overtaking India seamer Mohammed Siraj.

The 33-year-old Maharaj has been a stellar performer at the World Cup ahead of the semi-finals, taking 14 wickets at an average of just more than 24.

His best bowling figures at the global tournament is 4-46 against New Zealand while he has an outstanding economy-rate of 4.37 runs an over.

Maharaj currently has 726 rating points, gaining 32 points in the last week after his 2-25 against Afghanistan, which saw him overtake Siraj, who is currently on 723, gaining 14 points for his figures of 2-29 against the Netherlands on Sunday.

The top five of the rankings has two other India bowlers, with seamer Jasprit Bumrah entering the top four in the ODI bowling charts for the first time since July 2022.

Bumrah was out injured with a back injury for almost a year but has made a remarkable comeback in the World Cup while spinner Kuldeep Yadav is at number five.

The Proteas take on Australia in the World Cup semi-final in Kolkata on Thursday.

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