ICC Rankings: India No 1 in ODIs and T20s; 2nd in Tests

Dubai, May 3: They might have missed the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023 after a 10-match winning streak. They might not have won a single ICC title in the last couple of years. But there has been some constancy and steadiness in their cricketing journey in recent times. Not only in one format, but in all three formats. That perhaps is the reason, why Team India have retained their top spot in men’s ODIs and T20Is rankings after the annual update released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday.

In the Test rankings, India are in second place as Australia have taken the pole position. For the Test rankings, ICC said the annual update drops results from the 2020-21 season and reflects all series completed since May 2021. Australia, the current World Test Championship winners, now lead the table with 124 rating points.

India, who ceded top position to them, are just four points behind and 15 points clear of third-placed England. South Africa are the fourth team above the 100-point mark with 103 points. India slipped mainly because their 2-1 series win in Australia in 2020-21 has dropped from the rankings. The order of teams ranked from third to ninth remains the same. Only nine teams are now ranked as Afghanistan and Ireland have yet to play sufficient Tests while Zimbabwe too are out as they have played only three Tests over the past three years. Teams need to play a minimum of eight Tests over a three-year period to get on the rankings table.

In terms of white-ball games, India are on top of the ODI and T20I rankings, as the annual update says it weighs matches completed prior to May 2023 at 50 per cent and subsequent matches at 100 per cent.

India may have lost the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup final to Australia but have increased their lead over them from three to six points, leading the table with 122 points. There are no changes in the top 10 but Ireland have overtaken Zimbabwe to 11th position. Third-placed South Africa have closed the gap with Australia from eight to four points while Sri Lanka are just two points behind fifth-placed England.

The T20I rankings see Australia move ahead of England to second place but they are seven points adrift of India, who lead with 264 rating points. South Africa are just two points behind England after leapfrogging two places from the sixth position that they had before the update. New Zealand also have 250 points like South Africa but behind on fractions while the West Indies are at 249 points, which means that just three points separate third-placed England from sixth-placed West Indies.

In other movements, Pakistan have dropped two places to seventh while Scotland have overtaken Zimbabwe to 12th position. Outside the top 20, the biggest rating gains are achieved by Spain (up from 33rd to 30th), the Isle of Man (44th to 41st) and Switzerland (50th to 45th). In all, 86 countries have played at least eight T20Is in the past three years and so earned a ranking. Six countries are no longer ranked: Greece, Mexico, Myanmar and Turkey have played seven T20Is and so will be ranked after their next match, while Belize and Cook Island have played six T20Is, so will be ranked after playing two more matches.

Despite the ICC rankings, Indian cricket fans would be more delighted and eager to see Rohit Sharma & CO win the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup title in the West Indies and the USA. Remind you, India last won a ICC World Cup (ODI) in 2011. They have been to a few finals including the ODI World Cup 2023, but have not lifted the trophy. (With IANS support)