India back on their way upward in ICC ranking

The recent wins against the Windies gives India the prospect of climbing back up to fourth place in the ICC ODI Championship table.

India's successes in the first two one-dayers in the ongoing series against the West Indies have given Rahul Dravid's side the prospect of climbing back up to fourth place in the ICC ODI Championship table.

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With the victories in Nagpur and Cuttack, India have closed the gap on the sides immediately above it -- fourth-placed New Zealand and fifth-placed Sri Lanka -- to just a single rating point.

India was as high as third in the table in last April, but debilitating losses in the Caribbean and South Africa and well as disappointing form at home in the ICC Champions Trophy in October plunged the side to sixth position.

If India continues its winning run in Chennai on Saturday and in Vadodara on January 31, it will not only overtake Mahela Jayawardene's men but could do likewise with Stephen Fleming's line-up if New Zealand loses both its upcoming tri-series matches against Australia and England.

Two more wins for India would also leave it just two rating points adrift of neighbours Pakistan, although both sides are still a long way short of catching second-placed South Africa and table-topping world champions Australia.

Graeme Smith's side is 14 points clear of Pakistan prior to the two sides' five-match ODI series immediately before the ICC Cricket World Cup.

Meanwhile, Australia, which has gained three rating points since the start of its annual tri-series thanks to its unbeaten record, is now eight points ahead of the Proteas.