ICC Test Rankings: What Virat Kohli's men need to do against Australia to maintain No. 1 spot

Virat Kohli will also be looking to break into the 900-point mark for the first time in his career.S

New Delhi: ICC World No. 1 in Tests, the Indian cricket team bring end to their long home season with a 4-match Test series against Australia, starting February 23. After dominant wins over New Zealand, England and now Bangladesh, Virat Kohli and Co. take on the team from Down Under with an eye on protecting their position at the summit of the format.

Not just the Indian team, the ICC No. 1 and No. 2, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja (separated by 10 points) would be looking to prove their credentials against yet again and prevent ICC No. 3 Josh Hazlewood (27 points behind Ashwin) from going further.

Meanwhile, Indian captain Virat Kohli, who scored 204 and 38 in his two innings during the one-off Test against Bangladesh in Hyderabad, achieved his career-high rating of 895 points and presently stands just five points away from breaking into the 900-point barrier.

If he manages to do so against the Aussies, he will become the 31st batsman overall and only the second Indian after Sunil Gavaskar (916) to reach the landmark. It should also be noted that Kane Williamson (823) and David Warner (812) are also in queue for the 31st position but considering the gap, their are unlikely to reach the mark before Kohli.

Other India batsmen to get close to the 900-point mark were the greats Sachin Tendulkar (898) and Rahul Dravid (892).

ICC Test Team Rankings:-

Based on the likely results Indian team can get against Australia, following are some permutations and their impact on the rankings:-

• India beats Australia 4-0 – India 125; Australia 105
• Australia beats India 4-0 – India 113, Australia 115
• India beats Australia 3-1 or 2-0 – India 123; Australia 107
• Australia beats India 3-1 or 2-0 – India 115; Australia 113
• India beats Australia 3-0 – India 124; Australia 106
• Australia beats India 3-0 – India 114; Australia 114
• India beats Australia 2-1 – India 122; Australia 108
• Australia beats India 2-1 – India 117; Australia 112

All in all, if India lose 4-0 or 3-0 – which is unlikely considering the hosts form – they are set to retain the No. 1 spot in the Test standings.

Here are the present ICC Test Batsmen rankings:-

1 S.P.D. Smith            AUS 933

2 V. Kohli                   IND 895

3 J.E. Root                  ENG 848

4 K.S. Williamson      NZ 823

5 D.A. Warner            AUS 812

6 H.M. Amla              SA 787

7 Azhar Ali                PAK 779

8 Younus Khan          PAK 772

9 C.A. Pujara ​            IND 761

10 Q. de Kock           SA 760

Here are the present ICC Test Bowler rankings:-

1 R. Ashwin                    IND 887

2 R.A. Jadeja                  IND 877

3 J.R. Hazlewood           AUS 860

4 H.M.R.K.B. Herath     SL 827

5 K. Rabada                    SA 821

6 D.W. Steyn                  SA 819

7 J.M. Anderson             ENG 810

8 S.C.J. Broad                ENG 803

9 V.D. Philander             SA 798

10 M.A. Starc                 AUS 770

India take on Australia on 1st match of the 4-Test series on February 23, 2017 in Pune.