India continues to occupy top spot in ICC rankings

The team is now ahead of second-placed South Africa by 13 points.

India has a near-perfect record under Virat Kohli in the latest assessment period of 2016-17.

India consolidated its position atop the leaderboard among Test teams, widening the gulf between itself and second-placed South Africa to 13 points, according to the latest ICC rankings. With the result, India gains a prize money of USD 1,000,000, while South Africa gains USD 500,000.

For the latest analyses, Test results from 2014-15 period is made inconsequential and those from the assessment period 2015-16 and 2016-17 are weighted at 50 per cent. India made an improvement since a lacklustre 2014 and 2014-15 away season, when it had surrendered tamely to England and Australia. India, however, turned it around under Virat Kohli’s captaincy. India has had an impressive Test record after he became captain; it has won 21 Tests and lost only five, and in the latest season of 2016-17, it secured 10 wins out of 13 Tests.

Kiwis pip Aussies

For the latest rankings, India has reached an aggregate of 125 while South Africa has lost five points to slip to 112. South Africa is, however, still comfortably placed second ahead of the others.

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Australia is placed third with 106 points after gaining four points since the last rankings assessment. It has taken back the position from New Zealand, which had overtaken its neighbour at the last cut-off date of April 3. With the third position at the opportune moment, however, the Kiwis have assured themselves of a prize money of USD 20,000.

England has gained one point to possess a tally of 98; it sits fifth on the rankings table.

New low for West Indies

There has been interesting activity in the bottom half of the table. Bangladesh has moved ahead of West Indies, which is languishing in the ninth position for the first time since the rankings came into existence.

Having lost five points since the last time, West Indies possesses 67 points, eight ranking points behind Bangladesh.

Sri Lanka remains in the sixth position after having lost one point, while Zimbabwe have gained one point to reach two.

From the next time, the table will see new additions as Afghanistan and Ireland, the two new Test teams, will feature following their first-ever Tests. Ireland plays Pakistan in Malahide, Dublin from May 11 to May 15, while Afghanistan plays India in Bengaluru next month.