India has a chance to attain the pinnacle of ODI rankings with the Sri Lanka series

Team India has the great opportunity to climb to the top of the ICC ODI rankings in the upcoming three-match series against Sri Lanka. The ODI series is all set to commence on December 10 in Dharamsala at HPCA Cricket Stadium. The recently concluded Test series was won by the hosts by 1-0 as the final game in Delhi was ended in a draw. However, the series will also mark the international captaincy debut for Rohit Sharma who has previously led Mumbai Indians to a couple of titles in Indian Premier League (IPL).

Virat Kohli, the regular Indian skipper across formats, has been rested keeping in mind the all-important tour of South Africa in January next year. He will also miss the three-match T20I series which will follow after the One-Day Internationals. His absence has presented Rohit with an honour of leading the country at the highest level against his favourite opposition. If he manages to clean sweep the depleted visitors who aren’t oozing with the confidence either, it will do his confidence a world of good a the leader of the pack.

Current rankings

If the Men in Blue whitewash the team from island nation they can trump South Africa in the race to top the ICC ODI rankings. Currently, both the teams are locked at 120 rating points with the Proteas sneaking ahead with the help of decimal points. They can perch to the numero uno position after winning the first ODI on Sunday as well but to sustain at the top, they have to win the remaining two games too.

India start the series as favourites despite the absence of Virat Kohli would hurt them. The likes of Shikhar Dhawan, MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav and Hardik Pandya apart from Rohit Sharma would look to fill in his shoes. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have bolstered their squad with the inclusion of Asela Gunaratne and Danushka Gunathilaka. But they will be without their Test skipper Dinesh Chandimal who was dropped from ODI squad despite being the highest run-getter in the Test series.