After defeating Australia in the first Test in Nagpur, India ascended to the top of the latest ICC Test rankings. The comprehensive victory has given Rohit Sharma and Co 115 points, four more than the second-placed Australians. England is currently in third place with 106 points, but they will have an opportunity to improve their position when they face New Zealand in a Test series beginning February 16. With impressive spells on a pitch that aided their bowling, the Indian spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja improved their rankings significantly.
The Indian cricket team is currently topping the rankings in all three formats of the sport. Ashwin moved closer to grabbing the top spot in the bowlers’ rankings while Jadeja moved higher in the rankings. The two spinners took a combined 15 wickets to keep the Aussie batsmen in check. Ashwin took 5/37 in the second innings to go with 3/42 earlier in the match. Currently, Australia skipper Pat Cummins is leading the rankings but Ashwin is just 21 rating points behind him.
According to the ICC website, emerging West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie made his debut with 19 wickets in two Tests against Zimbabwe, and has risen 77 places to 46th after only three Tests. India captain Rohit Sharma improved his position as well, with his brilliant century against Australia in Nagpur propelling him from tenth to eighth place.=