India maintain stronghold at top of ICC Test rankings

India's position at the top of ICC's Test Championship table was on Sunday strengthened as a result of drop in South Africa's ratings points following their 1-1 draw with England in the four-match home series.

India's position at the top of ICC's Test Championship table was on Sunday strengthened as a result of drop in South Africa's ratings points following their 1-1 draw with England in the four-match home series.

HT Image

South Africa can now attain the top spot only if Bangladesh beat India in the two-Test series which started in Chittagong on Sunday.

Number-two ranked South Africa had entered the series against fifth-placed England on 122 ratings points, trailing India by two points.

But after the four-Test series ended in 1-1 draw in Johannesburg on Sunday, South Africa has dropped to 120 ratings points.

In contrast, England has gained two ratings points and now sit on 107 points.

South Africa, who conceded the number-one spot to India last year, could have regained the top spot if they had beaten England by 2-0 margin or better.

Such is the gap in ratings points between India and Bangladesh that even if Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men win the series 1-0, it will drop to 123 points, while a 1-1 draw will put it alongside South Africa on 120 but ahead of the Proteas by a fraction of a point.

If Bangladesh win the series 1-0, India will drop to 117 ratings points while in case of a 2-0 series loss, it will slip to 116 points.