India strengthens the No. 1 Test spot after the clean sweep against Sri Lanka

India are now 15 rating points ahead of South Africa at the top of the ICC Test rankings. India benefitted from South Africa’s horrific defeat from home to England in the recently concluded Test series. The Proteas lost to Joe Roots men by a 3-1 margin. It was shortly followed by Virat Kohli’s India clinching an impressive 3-0 series whitewash over hosts Sri Lanka. The hosts were totally outplayed by the visitors. India have thus consolidated their top position. They have been the no.1 Test team in the world since October 2016.

Dominating run

India are going great guns in Test cricket since their victory over West Indies in last year. They played 13 matches at home spread across the latter half of 2016 and early 2017 of which they lost only one (against Australia) and drew two. They defeated New Zealand 3-0, England 4-0, Bangladesh in a lone Test and Australia 2-1. The Sri Lanka series was their first away Test tour since they

The Sri Lanka series was their first away Test tour since they travelled to West Indies. India won the first Test by 304 runs. Both the second and third Tests were innings victories for visiting side with one being by an innings and 53 runs and the other being by an innings and 171 runs. Opener’s Shikhar Dhawan was in terrific form scoring two hundreds in the series, where as all-rounder Hardik Pandya turned out to be the x-factor.

Ravindra Jadeja was suspended for one game for breaching the ICC’s code of conduct and he was replaced by chinaman Kuldeep Yadav, who impressed one and all with his extraordinary skills.

However, India won’t be playing any more Test series this year apart from the scheduled home series against Sri Lanka. Kohli’s men’s next major Test series will be against South Africa in South Africa. It will be one of the most challenging series but for now they can soak in the laurels.

Here are the latest Test team rankings