India retain ICC Test C’ship mace

India have retained the ICC Test Championship mace and also won a cash award of USD one million for holding on to the top position in the Test Team rankings on the annual April 1 cut-off date.

Captain Virat Kohli received the mace and cheque from Sunil Gavaskar at a ceremony after the fourth and final Test against Australia, in which Ajinkya Rahane led the side as Kohli could not play due to a shoulder injury. India had entered the series against Australia needing to win at least one Test to retain possession of the prestigious mace, which it had reclaimed following the Indore Test against New Zealand in October 2016, ICC said in a statement.

The side to finish second will get USD 500,000 while the side finishing third will receive USD 200,000. The fourthplaced team, England, will get USD 100,000.

"We are delighted to have topped the rankings. The longest format of the game really tests a team's character and I'm proud that we have proved ourselves to be the best," Kohli said.