How India could become the No.1 Test team by the end of the West Indies series

Prabu Thiruppathy

ByPrabu Thiruppathy, SportsCafe Editor

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The ICC Test rankings could see major shifts when Australia and India take on Sri Lanka and West Indies respectively in their upcoming series. With the No.1 and 2 teams locking horns with the No.7 and 8 placed teams, the downside for the former and the upside for the latter can see India go top.

India play West Indies in a four-Test series starting July 21, and Australia are set to tour Sri Lanka for a three-match series starting from July 26. Given the vast differences between the opponents in both cases, while a win for India and Australia will help them only retain their points, losses would see them bleed crucial points. India are currently second at 112 points, while Australia are first at 118 points.

India:

If India win the series 3-0 or 4-0, they will stay at 112 points.

Even a 3-1 or 2-0 win will see India slip to 110 points. That will push India behind Pakistan who went third above England with 111 points after their historic victory at Lord's.

A 1-3 or 0-2 loss by India to the West Indies will have India plummeting below the 100-mark to 98 – a seemingly improbable but potential outcome.

Also, read : Anil Kumble | Can the legendary bowler transform into a great coach?

Australia:

If Australia win the three-Test series against Sri Lanka 2-0 or 3-0, they will stay at 118 points.

But if Sri Lanka win the series even with a 1-0 margin, Australia will slip down to 111 points.

In a scenario where Sri Lanka wins the tour and India wins at least three Tests, the Men in Blue can finally regain the No.1 Test spot.

The scenario, however, looks unlikely more because of Sri Lanka's poor form in the England series where they had a miserable tour. However, home advantage and the return of injured players could give the Islanders a shot at a major upset.

On the bowling front, it is a battle of the spinners between leggie Yasir Shah and offie Ravichandran Ashwin. Yasir Shah leaped to the top after his 10-wicket haul at the Lord's as Pakistan thumped an English side that had battled them on and off the field over the month.

Also, read : Yasir Shah | Is the record-breaker spinning his way to glory?

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