T20 World Cup 2024: West Indies enter top 5 in ICC T20I Rankings; India remain No.1

West Indies have received a major boost in the ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings ahead of the highly-anticipated ICC T20 World Cup 2024. 

The co-hosts are entering the marquee event high on confidence thanks to the 3-0 series win over South Africa. West Indies warmed up for the T20 World Cup by thoroughly outplaying the Proteas in the three-match series. They won the first game by 28 runs after posting 175/8 and bowling out the visitors for just 147.

In the second game, West Indies emerged victorious by 16 runs to clinch the series with a match remaining. After scoring 207/7, the hosts restricted the visitors to 191/7. And in the third game, West Indies thrashed South Africa by 8 wickets. After South Africa scored 163/7 in the allotted 20 overs, the Caribbean outfit chased it down inside 14 overs by losing only a couple of wickets.

West Indies move up in ICC Rankings:

Thanks to the 3-0 series win over South Africa, West Indies have moved up to the fourth spot in the ICC Rankings. They were at the sixth spot before the start of the series and will now enter the World Cup as one of the top four teams in the world. On the other hand, South Africa have dropped to the seventh spot from fourth.

Team India are currently at the top of the rankings with 264 rating points and are followed by Australia (257 rating points) and England (254 rating points) in second and third place respectively. West Indies are fourth with 252 rating points. New Zealand (250 rating points) complete the top five.

West Indies will be eyeing a triumphant campaign in the T20 World Cup, scheduled to be played in the Caribbeans and the USA from June 1 to 29. They have the opportunity to become the first team to win the T20 World Cup on home soil. West Indies can also become the very first team to win the tournament thrice. 

The co-hosts are in Group C along with New Zealand, Afghanistan, Uganda, Oman, and Papua New Guinea. They will open their campaign against Papua New Guinea on June 2.