Kohli claims no. 2 spot, Bhuvi breaks into top 10
Dubai, Oct. 20: Benefitting from his return to form in the abruptly- ended West Indies series, India batsman Virat Kohli claimed number two slot in the ICC rankings while swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar broke into top- 10 for the first time in his career.
Kohli scored 191 runs, including 127 in the final match, in India’s 21 series win as he pushed South Africa’s Hashim Amla to number three in the list, topped by Amla’s compatriot AB de Villiers.
India skipper M. S. Dhoni was the next best India at number six ( unchanged) while Shikhar Dhawan lost a place to be eighth. Lefthanded Suresh Raina gained three places to move to 15th.
Bhuvneshwar took only two wickets in the series but he jumped seven places to number seven, just behind Ravindra Jadeja, who slipped to sixth from fifth. Paceman Mohammed Shami, who ended the series as the most successful bowler with 10 for 174, vaulted five places to 16th and has broken into the top 20 for the first time in his career. Off- Spinner was placed at number 18, a loss of two spots.
In the team rankings, India remain at number two with 113 points, same as South Africa, who though have a chance to snatch top spot from Australia ( 114) when they face New Zealand in the three- match ODI series, starting Wednesday.
A 3- 0 series will put South Africa ahead of the four- time world champion by one ratings point.
If South Africa manages to win all the three matches against New Zealand, then it will reclaim the numberone position for the first time in five years after handing over the baton to Australia following its first- round elimination from ICC Champions Trophy 2009. On the other side, if New Zealand win the series, then it will leapfrog Pakistan into sixth position.