After the annual update of the ICC team rankings was released on Thursday, India retained its number one spot, closely followed by ICC World Test Championship co-finalist New Zealand.
India heads the table after gaining one rating point for an aggregate of 121, having accumulated 2914 points from 24 matches.
Also Read | Rahul Dravid predicts 3-2 edge for India over England in upcoming Test series
Virat Kohli’s men are closely followed by their World Test Championship final opponents, New Zealand, with a rating of 120. The Kiwis have garnered 2166 points from 18 Tests and gained two rating points.
India’s 2-1 win over Australia and 3-1 win over England during the past year, and New Zealand’s 2-0 series’ win over the West Indies and Pakistan have helped them keep ahead of the pack.
Also Read | ‘Baby Boston Cummins’: KKR congratulate expecting parents Pat Cummins, fiance
According to an ICC statement, the latest annual update eliminates results of 2017-18. The latest update rates all matches played since May 2020 at 100 per cent and those of the previous two years at 50 per cent.
England (109 points) has climbed a place to third at the expense of Australia (108 points), down to fourth now. England’s jump came after their 0-4 defeat to Australia in 2017-18 was dropped from the rankings.
Also Read | India will tour Sri Lanka in July for limited-overs series: Sourav Ganguly
Pakistan (94) have gained three points but remained at the fifth spot, while West Indies (84), who beat Bangladesh 2-0 and drew 0-0 with Sri Lanka in series played this year, have jumped two places to sixth, their best position since 2013.
South Africa (80) and Sri Lanka (78) have dropped a rung each to seventh and eighth positions respectively, followed by Bangladesh (46), who have lost five points, and Zimbabwe (35), who gained eight points. The Proteas, thus, have equaled their lowest in Test ranking history.
India and New Zealand will square off in the inaugural World Test Championship final at Southampton’s Ageas Bowl from June 18 to 22.
