Team India in action© AFP
India was seven points clear of England at the top of the ICC T20 ranking after their small win over Australia in Hyderabad. With a 0-1 loss to itinerant Australia, Rohit Sharma-led India bounced back in style to tie the series in Nagpur before Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav’s 50-somethings sealed a 2-1 victory in the decisive rubber on Sunday. The six-wicket final victory improved their position by one point to 268 points, seven points ahead of their closest rival in England in the ICC T20 ranking released Monday.
The upcoming three-game series against South Africa will give India a chance to consolidate their lead at the top ahead of the World Cup in Australia.
The Proteas are third in the team rankings with 258 points, but could defend their claim when they start the next heat in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.
Incidentally, it was Pakistan’s narrow win over England on Sunday in the fourth game in Karachi that helped India extend their lead.
That streak remains level at two games each, with enough ranking points left to play for in the last three games in Lahore.
Pakistan is currently tied with South Africa for third in the team ranking with 258 points, but could rise to second by winning the remaining three games against England.
England, on the other hand, will keep second in the league table if they win one of those matches.
Reigning World Cup champion Australia, who is sixth seed, dropped a point to 250 after their series loss to India.
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Australia will play six games — against the West Indies, England and India (warming up) — before they get a chance to defend their trophy at home.
(This story was not edited by NDTV staff and was generated automatically from a syndicated feed.)
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