India officially moved to the top spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings, after beating England 2-1 to win the Basil D’Oliveira Trophy.
South Africa were moved from the top spot after three and a half years, a period of clinical authority for them. But the 3-0 whitewash they suffered in India this year proved to be a huge blow, for not only did it make their hold over the top spot loose, it also seemed to psychologically impede them with regards to their confidence in the following home series against England.
England were the No. 1 ranked Test team before South Africa, a position they enjoyed for a year, having taken over from India in the 2011 English summer, which oversaw India’s 0-4 defeat in four Tests in England. This was a period of remarkable slide for India, who were whitewashed again in 2011-12 in Australia.
But ever since Virat Kohli took over India’s Test captaincy, since the start of 2015, India enjoyed success.
Their 0-2 defeat against Australia notwithstanding, they drew a rain-marred Test against Bangladesh in Fatullah, won a Test series 2-1 in Sri Lanka, and defeated South Africa at home. The win against South Africa pushed them to the No. 2 spot in Test rankings.
India now have 110 rating points, and are followed by Australia and South Africa. Pakistan are fourth, ahead of England (5th), New Zealand (6), Sri Lanka (7), West Indies (8), Bangladesh (9) and Zimbabwe (10).
(sportstarlive.com)
