Jadeja achieves career-best third, India consolidate position

Birmingham: Ravindra Jadeja attained a career-best third spot in the ODI bowlers and all-rounders` list a day after India lifted the ICC Champions Trophy that strengthen their position as the number one ranked team on the ODI Championship table in the latest rankings released on Monday.

India, having entered the tournament on 119 ratings points, have now moved to 123 thanks to their victories over South Africa, West Indies and Pakistan in the group stage, followed by wins over Sri Lanka in the semi-finals and England in the final. They have a lead of 10 ratings points over their nearest rival, England, who are currently on 113 points, level with third-placed Australia. But Alastair Cook`s side is ranked above Michael Clarke`s team by a fraction of a point. Jadeja`s 12 scalps in the Champions Trophy made him the highest wicket taker and fetched him the Golden Ball trophy. His unbeaten 33 and two for 24 in the final against England here last night also helped him earn the Man of the Match. His efforts have made him climb to a career-best third in the latest ICC ODI player rankings for bowlers. He has also climbed up three places to 52nd in the batting table. Jadeja`s combined effort with the bat and ball helped him move up a place to a best-ever third in the latest all-rounders` rankings. Meanwhile, India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also made a return to the top 10 in the bowlers` list, having jumped six places to ninth. Others Indians to make upward movements are Bhuvaneshwar Kumar in 49th (up by three) and Ishant Sharma in 51st (up by five) in the bowlers` list, which is still headed by West Indies` Sunil Narine. In the ICC ODI player rankings for batsmen, Virat Kohli has retained his third position. Opener Shikhar Dhawan, who ended the tournament as the highest run-getter after scoring 363 runs, jumped 21 places to a career-best 29th. Dhawan`s efforts with the bat not only fetched him the Player of the tournament award but also earned him the Golden Bat trophy for scoring the most runs of the tournament. However, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni slipped a position to be placed at 5th spot, while Suresh Raina and out-of-favour opener Gautam Gambhir lost two and one places, respectively to be at 16th and 20th spots. The batting list continues to be headed by South Africa captain AB de Villiers. PTI