ICC Test Rankings: India Move To Second Spot After Series Win In Australia

Team India, on Tuesday, pulled off an astonishing run-chase to thrash Australia by three wickets in the fourth Test at the Gabba and seal the series 2-1. The defeat is Australia’s first at the venue since 1988.  Needing a record 328 runs to win the Test, India rode on fifties from Rishabh Pant, Cheteshwar Pujara and Shubman Gill to cross the finishing line with three overs to spare.

Gill top-scored with the bat, scoring 91 while Pant scored an unbeaten 89. What makes the series win even more special is that India were without some of their biggest names because of injuries while skipper Virat Kohli missed the three Tests of the series due to paternity leave. The likes of Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari are currently sidelined with injuries.

19 Dec 2020: India all out for 36
19 Jan 2021: India breach The Gabba fortress#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/P0sh5zsmtJ

— ICC (@ICC) January 19, 2021

Not many had given India a chance of challenging Australia let alone winning the series after they were bowled out for 36 – their lowest total in Test cricket – in the first Test. But since then, the tourists showed remarkable resilience and courage to win two Tests while drawing one. And it is safe to say that India saved their best performance for last.

India move up in the ICC Test Rankings:

Thanks to the 2-1 series win, India have displaced Australia to become the number 2 side in the latest ICC Test Team Rankings, released by the governing body of the game after the Test. New Zealand are currently at the top with 118.44 rating points followed by India with 117.65 rating points. India will have a chance to reclaim the top spot when they lock horns against England next month.

?? India displace Australia to become the new No.2 in the @MRFWorldwide ICC Test Team Rankings ?#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/ae4sPu3VdQ

— ICC (@ICC) January 19, 2021

Meanwhile, India have also moved back to the top spot in the ICC World Test Championship Points Table for the first time since the percentage system was introduced. Australia, on the other hand, have dropped to the third spot behind India and New Zealand.

Also Read: I Don’t Know How To Describe This, Says Ajinkya Rahane After Guiding India To Series Win

Also Read: Credit To ‘Disciplined And Tough’ India, They Deserve The Win: Tim Paine