India drop to fifth spot in ODI rankings

New Delhi: World champions India have dropped to the fifth position in the Reliance ICC ODI Championship table after England won the five-match ODI series 3-0 on Friday.

It is Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s side’s lowest ranking since October 2008 when it spent three months at the number-five position. The slide in the ODI rankings sums up a disappointing summer for India in England where it also slipped from the number-one position in the Reliance ICC Test Championship to third spot after losing all the four Tests.

India had entered the series in the third position on 117 ratings points and finished on 112 ratings points after it lost the second, third and fifth ODIs while the first ODI at Chester-le-Street was washed-out and the fourth at Lord’s ended in a tie.

In fact, India had slipped to fourth position after the third ODI at The Oval where it went down by three wickets (according to Duckworth-Lewis method) and then slipped further behind after defeat in another rain-reduced match in Cardiff on Friday.

In contrast, England have gained a place and have moved to the fourth spot. England, who remained unbeaten in the series, earned six ratings points which left it a point ahead of India and three behind third-ranked South Africa.

However, India will have a chance to not only reclaim lost ground but potentially move into the second spot with a good show in the five-match ODI series against England which starts at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on 14 October.

Meanwhile, Pakistan have gained one ratings point for their 3-0 win against Zimbabwe. However, there is no change in their ranking as they stay in the sixth position – 11 points behind India and as many ahead of seventh-ranked New Zealand.

Australia still lead the rankins with 130 points while Sri Lanka follow in the second spot with 119 points.

The Reliance ICC ODI player rankings will be released on Sunday.