India’s rise to the top of the ICC Test Rankings will reflect only after their Test series against New Zealand, but there has already been talk as to how long Virat Kohli’s men can occupy the top position.
The Indian’s win at Kolkata on Monday meant that they had won the series with one Test still remaining.
Before the series started, it was known that India would go top of the rankings with a series win, but what must they do to ensure that Pakistan can’t catch up after their Test series against West Indies later this month?
Well, it’s simple.
A win or a draw for India in the third Test at Indore means that Pakistan can’t catch them even with a 3-0 series win over the West Indies.
With India’s home record being so impressive in the recent past, it looks likely that they could hold top spot for a while. Over the last 12 home Tests, India have won 11 and drawn one (a Test in which four days were lost due to rain).
A surprise New Zealand win in the third Test could open an opportunity for Pakistan to get back to the top of the rankings.
Here are the two possible scenarios:
1. If India win or draw the Indore Test against New Zealand, India are number one and Pakistan can’t catch them irrespective of their result against the West Indies.
2. If India lose the Indore Test, Pakistan can reclaim the top spot with a 3-0 series win over the West Indies. Any other result in the Pakistan-West Indies series will see India hold top spot irrespective of the result in the Indore Test.
