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South African spinner Keshav Maharaj has stormed back to the top of the ICC Men's ODI Bowling Rankings. After a scintillating five-wicket haul against Australia, reaffirming his status as one of the most lethal spinners in world cricket. In the opening ODI of the three-match series held at Cazalys Stadium in Cairns on August 19. Keshav Maharaj delivered a masterclass in spin bowling, claiming 5 wickets for just 33 runs in his 10-over spell. His performance dismantled Australia's middle order, turning what looked like a promising chase into a dramatic collapse. From 60/0, the hosts crumbled to 89/6 within nine overs, thanks largely to Maharaj's relentless accuracy and guile. The 35-year-old left-arm orthodox spinner removed key batters including Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, and Aaron Hardie. His spell not only earned him the Player of the Match award. But also propelled South Africa to a commanding 98-run victory, setting the tone for the series. This performance catapulted Maharaj to the №1 spot in the ICC ODI Bowling Rankings, overtaking Sri Lanka's Maheesh Theekshana and India's Kuldeep Yadav. Maharaj now holds 687 rating points, reclaiming a position he briefly held in late 2023. Ranking Shake-Up The latest rankings reflect a significant reshuffle. Kuldeep Yadav. Who had been holding the top spot, slipped to third due to India's lack of ODI fixtures since the Champions Trophy. Theekshana now sits second with 671 points. Other notable movers include West Indies' Jayden Seales. Who surged 17 places after a six-wicket haul against Pakistan, and Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed, who climbed 18 spots to joint-43rd. Interestingly, despite not playing ODIs recently, Indian pacers Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj have all gained a spot each, now ranked 13th, 14th, and 15th respectively. Ravindra Jadeja remains India's highest-ranked spinner at ninth with 616 points. Keshav Maharaj's Rise: A Testament to Consistency Maharaj's