Team India can end up as number one ranked team across formats, highlights Wasim Jaffer

India is already the top-ranked T20I team in the world, ahead of the world champions in the format by one rating point. Later in the summer, a series victory by a margin of two games or more in the upcoming four-match Test series against Australia, labelled the Border Gavaskar Trophy, would see India leapfrogging the Kangaroos to the number-one spot in red-ball cricket as well. Presently, the team is involved in a three-match ODI series against New Zealand, with the final game of the series scheduled to be played on Tuesday in Indore. Even though the hosts have wrapped up the series by taking an unassailable 2-0 lead, the encounter holds extra significance given the winner would end up as the new top-ranked ODI team. Currently, the pair is tied with England at the top with 113 points each. 

"On the basis of the way the Indian team are playing at the moment, there is a good chance that Team India can end up as the No.1-ranked team across all formats pretty soon. In ODIs, I think India will definitely be ranked No.1," former cricket and renowned expert Wasim Jaffer was quoted saying to ESPN Cricinfo.

The first game of the series in Hyderabad had seen an exhibition of power-hitting where Shubman Gill's double-ton had steered India to a mammoth score of 349, followed by clinical bowling to restrict the Kiwis to 131/6. However, a heroic 140(78) by Michael Bracewell brought the Black Caps to within 12 runs of India's total but a lack of a rescue-act in the second ODI in Raipur meant the visitors folded for a paltry 108. A flamboyant Rohit Sharma half-century ensured the team sailed to an eight-wicket victory.