SA vs IND 2018: Chance for India to Move to Top in ODI Rankings
A lot will be at stake when India takes on South Africa in the upcoming six-match One-Day International series, starting February 1st. The forthcoming series will provide India with an opportunity to leapfrog South Africa and take the top spot in ICC ODI rankings.
The Proteas are currently leading the rankings with 120 points followed by India (119) and England (116).
The Men in Blue can move to the top of the table if they win the forthcoming series by 4-2 or better. On the other hand, the hosts will just have to draw the series to hold on their number one ranking. But in case, India lose the series 5-1 or get whitewashed; they will slip behind third-placed England by a fraction of a point.
South Africa, India and England are followed by New Zealand who recently whitewashed Pakistan 5-0. Reigning world champions Australia have dropped two places to fifth after the 4-1 series loss at the hands of England.
Pakistan, the ICC Champions Trophy winners, have conceded three points and are at the sixth position followed by Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Here are the latest ICC rankings for ODIs:
| Position | Team | Rating |
| 1 | South Africa | 120 |
| 2 | India | 119 |
| 3 | England | 116 |
| 4 | New Zealand | 115 |
| 5 | Australia | 112 |
| 6 | Pakistan | 96 |
| 7 | Bangladesh | 90 |
| 8 | Sri Lanka | 84 |
| 9 | West Indies | 76 |
| 10 | Zimbabwe | 53 |
| 11 | Afghanistan | 52 |
| 12 | Ireland | 44 |
In players’ ranking, India skipper Virat Kohli continues to lead the ICC ODI Player Rankings for batsmen with 876 points, leading South Africa’s AB de Villiers by four points. The duo is followed by Australia’s David Warner, India’s Rohit Sharma (816) and Pakistan’s Babar Azam (813).
Amongst the bowlers, Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah (728 points) is the highest-ranked Indian bowler, sitting at the third spot behind leader Imran Tahir (743) and Trent Boult (729). The only other Indian in the top ten is left-arm spinner Axar Patel, who is at the tenth spot.
Meanwhile, the ODI series will get underway on February 1 in Durban. The six-match ODI series will be followed by a three-match T20 International series.
