Indian cricket team bags $1 million for topping ICC Test rankings
India cemented their place at the pinnacle of the ICC Test rankings following their 2-1 series victory over Australia in Dharamsala. During the presentation ceremony, Virat Kohli accepted the Test mace and a cheque of $ 1 million on behalf of his team while Ashwin won the Sir Garfield Sobers Award.
After winning their fourth consecutive Test series of the home season, India
Kohli and co. had gone into the Australia series knowing that one win in four Tests series would be enough to guarantee the top spot in the rankings ahead of the April 1st cut-off date. More importantly, their latest Test series win now means that India currently
And though India’s full-time skipper Virat Kohli was forced to sit out of the final Test with a shoulder injury, he was overjoyed at receiving the cheque and the mace saying, "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."
The second spot in the Test rankings, though, is still up for grabs and will be decided on the fifth day of the third Test between South Africa and New Zealand, in Hamilton. The Proteas need at least a draw against the Kiwis to hold on to the No.2 spot and claim the prize money of USD 500,000. If they lose, the Aussies will climb up a spot.
The ICC also announced that Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will be honored with the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for being the ICC Cricketer of the Year for 2016. Ashwin was also named Test cricketer of the year for 2016, for taking 48 wickets and scoring 336 runs in the eight Tests he featured in during the stipulated period - 14th September 2015 to 20th September 2016. He also took 27 wickets in 19 T20Is during the same time.