Explained: Why India slipped to No. 3 in ICC Test rankings
India have slipped to 3rd position in the latest ICC Test rankings. This is the first time since October 2016 that they are not at the top of the rankings. India’s loss means Australia’s gain who are now at the top with 116 points, while New Zealand are 2nd with 115 points.
But with no cricket happening across the globe why did India lose the top spot?
International Cricket Council’s media update says that the latest rankings have taken into consideration all the matches played since May 2019 at 100 per cent and those of the previous two years at 50 percent. So, this means that the current rankings have removed the records from 2016-17 which was a golden year for Team India when they won 12 Tests and lost just one. They had won all five series during that period, including victories against Australia and England. During the same period, Australia had lost against South Africa and were humbled by Virat Kohli’s men.
The silver lining for India, though, is the fact that they continue to lead the ICC World Test Championship which is a league of six Test series featuring the top nine Test sides of the world.
Despite falling to the 3rd spot from the top of the table, India are not the biggest sufferers in the latest rankings. South Africa, who saw a dip of eight points, are now at 6th place below Sri Lanka in the rankings. The Proteas had won three series during the period that has been removed, while, since February 2019, they have lost eight of their nine Tests.
Meanwhile, there has been no change in the position of teams in the ICC ODI rankings. However, England have tightened their grip at the top by increasing their lead over the 2nd placed India from six to eight points.
As far as T20I rankings are concerned, Australia (278) top the list for the first time since the introduction of the rankings in the format in 2011. Pakistan, who had been at top since January 2018, are now fourth with 260 points.
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