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Gill, Siraj Play Down Number 1 Crown, Say ‘Goal Is To Win World Cup 2023’

image-lor30hvsIndian players converge around Mohammed Siraj during the 2023 World Cup (AP)

Shubman Gill displaced Babar Azam, while Mohammed Siraj dethroned Shaheen Afridi to become the new number one batter and bowler respectively on the latest ICC Men’s ODI rankings. The two cricketers have played significant roles in Team India’s successful ODI run in the past year and a half, and have also emerged as two of their standout exponents in team’s unbeaten run in the 2023 World Cup throughout their first eight fixtures.

In spite of documenting a momentous high in their respective careers, both Gill and Siraj have played down their newfound number one crown in favor of a much bigger task in hand.

Shubman Gill, Siraj signify bigger task at hand

On November 8, dashing Indian opener Shubman Gill displaced Pakistan captain Babar Azam from the top of the number one ODI rankings for batsman. On the same day, Gill’s teammate and pace maverick Mohammed Siraj replaced ‘Men in Green’ fast bowler Shaheen Afridi to claim the top position on the bowling charts.

As it turned out, both Gill and Siraj have played down the significance of their newfound achievement, claiming that they still have a World Cup to win for their team and for their country. Gill said:

“It feels good to be number 1 but the job is not done yet.”

Speaking on the same veins, Mohammed Siraj claimed:

“Number 1 ranking doesn't matter for me, my goal is to win the 2023 World Cup.”

Opening the innings for Team India alongside captain Rohit Sharma, 24-year-old Gill has so far scored 219 runs in the ongoing 2023 World Cup, featuring two match-winning half-centuries against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Siraj, on the other hand, has claimed 10 wickets to form a compelling pace triad alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami with the new-ball.

Their collective efforts, coupled with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s sublime touch with the bat, have ensured that Team India maintained its unbeaten run throughout their first eight fixtures of the 2023 World Cup. The ‘Men in Blue’ also became the first-ever team to get qualified for the semi-finals of the competition.