India Jump From No. 4 to No. 2 Spot in Test Rankings After Series Win
India have 110 points after their 3-0 series win against South Africa to be placed second behind the Proteas in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings. However, they may lose the spot as India are no longer playing a Test match till April 1, which is the cut-off date
India jumped to the second spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test Rankings after completing a 3-0 drubbing of South Africa in the four-Test series, which concluded with a 337-run win at the Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi on Monday. (India Conquer South Africa at Kotla; Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav Help Win Series 3-0)
The series victory helped Virat Kohli's side gain 10 points, which has lifted it from 100 points to 110. India are now ahead of Australia and Pakistan, who have slipped one place each to be third and fourth respectively.
Hashim Amla's side retained its No.1 Test ranking but its lead at the top has been slashed from 16 points to just four points.
India will play no more Test matches before the April 1 cut-off date, but Australia will host eighth-ranked West Indies in a three-Test series from December 10. The sixth-ranked New Zealand will also play against seventh-ranked Sri Lanka from the same date, while the fifth-ranked England will travel to South Africa for a four-Test series, which will start in Durban on December 26.
To finish as the No.1 Test side at the annual cut-off date, South Africa will have to draw the series with England, at least. Its failure to do so, will result in it falling from the top pedestal and handing the top position to Australia (provided it win the series against the West Indies by 3-0 margin).