India become new No. 1 ranked ICC test team following test series win over England

Team India won the five-match test series against England 4-1.

In a thrilling comeback, India became the new No.1 side in the latest ICC Men’s Test Team Rankings, dethroning Australia after a convincing 4-1 series victory over England. The five-match series, filled with twists and turns, ultimately showcased India’s resilience and dominance, culminating in their return to the summit of test cricket.

India’s journey to the top wasn’t without its challenges. They faced defeat in the opening test in Hyderabad by a narrow margin of 28 runs. However, the team displayed remarkable fighting spirit, winning the remaining four tests in Vishakapatnam, Rajkot, Ranchi and Dharamsala.

This exceptional performance secured them a commanding 122 rating points, surpassing Australia’s 117 points and solidifying their position at the pinnacle of the rankings. Ben Stokes’ England are ranked third in the longest format and have accumulated 111 rating points.

It is to be noted that Australia are currently playing New Zealand, who are ranked fourth on the ICC Men’s Test rankings with 101 points, and the outcome of the two-match test series will not affect India’s reign at the top of the tree.

This achievement marks a significant milestone for Indian cricket, solidifying their commitment to excellence in the longest format of the game. The victory not only cements India’s position as a cricketing powerhouse but also extends their reign at the top of all three ICC Men’s rankings i.e. Test, ODI and T20I. India are also at the top of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC 2023-25) points table, with a points percentage of 68.51.

Latest ICC test team rankings as on 10th March, 2024:

“Really proud”: Indian head coach Rahul Dravid after winning the five-match series 4-1 vs England

After winning the series 4-1 against England head coach Rahul Dravid said that he is extremely proud of the kind of performance his players showcased after losing the first match of the series in Hyderabad.

“Yeah, really proud, to be honest. To go behind in the first Test, obviously it was a little bit disappointing, but just credit to the team and all the players, the way they bounced back. I thought we were able to keep a lot of calmness in spite of losing that first match. I still believed that we had the skills and the abilities to compete,” Dravid said in the post-match press conference in Dharamsala.

“And just the way we performed, especially when we’ve been put under pressure at various stages in the series. We’ve always found people to step up, the team to stand up. So as a coach and as a support staff, I couldn’t be really prouder of this team and the way they’ve played right through the series,” he added.

Rohit Sharma becomes the fifth Indian captain to win 10 or more test matches.

After defeating England in the final test at the HPCA stadium in Dharamsala, Rohit Sharma joined the elite list of Indian captains who have won 10 or more test matches. 

Rohit Sharma became the fifth Indian skipper after Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Sourav Ganguly, and Mohammad Azharuddin to win 10 or more test games. Rohit also went past MAK Pataudi and Sunil Gavaskar’s tally of winning nine test wins as Indian captain.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.