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SPORTS JUNE 11, 2021 | The Indian Eye 52

I am committed to taking Indian icc odi rankings: Kohli
cricket ahead and I will be al- holds onto second spot
ways like this till the game I play
the game. There has never been Sri Lanka fast bowler Dush-
pressure on me and there would mantha Chameera and captain
be no pressure going ahead. As Kusal Perera have made con-
long as I am helping the team- siderable gains in the latest ICC
mates and they are helping each Men’s ODI Player Rankings
other, this is the only thing that weekly update.
matters. We want to enjoy the fi- Chameera and captain Pere-
nal,” he added. ra have made considerable gains
The Indian Men’s team ar- after starring in a 97-run victo-
rived in the UK on June 3, 2021, ry over Bangladesh in the final
via a chartered flight with nega- match of their ICC Men’s Crick-
tive PCR Test. Prior to travelling, et World Cup Super League se-
the party will have spent 14 days ries.
in a bio-secure environment in Team India faces a tough challenger India captain Virat Kohli and
India during which regular test- vice-captain Rohit Sharma have
ing will have taken place. held onto their second and third
Upon landing, they will pro- spots in the ODI Batsmen Rank-
ceed directly to the on-site hotel ings. Pacer Jasprit Bumrah has
at the Hampshire Bowl where also maintained his fifth slot in
they will be tested again before the ODI Bowling Rankings.
commencing a period of man- Chameera’s career-best haul
aged isolation. Regular tests will of five for 16, which won him
be conducted during the period the Player of the Match award,
of isolation. Players’ activity will has also helped him advance 27
be allowed in a gradually increas- slots to a career-best 33rd posi-
ing manner after each round of tion. The 29-year-old had start-
negative testing, moving from ed the series in 72nd position
exercise in isolation to small and moved up last week with a
group and then larger squad ac- three-wicket haul in the second
tivity, whilst always remaining match.
within the bio-secure venue. Perera’s sixth ODI century
has lifted him 13 places to 42nd
Kiwis’ biggest strength is to place in the weekly update to the
come up as a team men’s rankings, which is carried
Team India’s next big chal- out on Wednesdays. This is only
lenge is the upcoming World Dushmantha Chameera one place shy of the left-handed
Test Championship (WTC) batsman’s career-best ranking of
final against New Zealand in per cent out of each player. “If ing in a neutral country is an 41st achieved in June 2016.
Southampton. And former In- you look at their names -- no exciting prospect,” Williamson Dhananjaya de Silva is an-
dia wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel one would be scared of Kane said during the virtual presser. other Sri Lanka player to gain
believes the biggest strength of Williamson alone, no one will “It’s great, and like I men- in the rankings, moving up 10
the Kane Williamson-led squad be scared of Tom Latham alone tioned, it’s nice always to get places to 85th after a knock of
is their ability to rise to chal- or all their fast bowlers. Their into the side after a break. 55. He has also progressed two
lenges as a team. ability to perform together. I There is a lot of excitement places to 79th among bowlers
Speaking on Star Sports’ think that’s so important; as far in the camp, and we know the and is up seven places to 24th
show Cricket Connected, as New Zealand’s performance challenge, like coming over among all-rounders. Leg-spin-
Parthiv shared his views on is concerned in ICC trophies,” here and playing against En- ner Wasindu Hasaranga has
what could be New Zealand’s he said. gland in their own backyard,” moved up nine places to a joint-
biggest strength during the While addressing a virtual he added. 51st position.
World Test Championship fi- press conference, New Zea- Regular tests will be con- For Bangladesh, who won
nal. land skipper Williamson said ducted during the period of iso- the series 2-1, Mahmudullah’s
“I think New Zealand’s big- his team is looking forward to lation. Players’ activity will be knock of 53 sees him advance
gest strength is to come up as a facing India in the WTC final. allowed in a gradually increas- two slots to 36th position while
team in the game. I think, yes, all “I know the boys are really ing manner after each round of Mosaddek Hussain’s innings of
the teams have their superstars, excited for the challenge and negative testing, moving from 51 have lifted him 12 places to
but they (the Kiwis) know their then the Test Championship exercise in isolation to small 113th in the rankings. Fast bowl-
limitations, they know if some- final. The focus will be on one group and then larger squad er Taskin Ahmed, who grabbed
one’s capable of scoring 40 or game at a time. I suppose hav- activity, whilst always remain- four for 46, has progressed 12
50 in a limited time and get 100 ing a different opposition, play- ing within the bio-secure venue. places to 88th position.

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