Dubai, March 7 (IANS) India will go into the World Twenty 20 as the number one ranked side in the cricket world after clinching the Asia Cup T20 title.
Their number one ranking was sealed late Sunday evening after Mahendra Singh Dhonis side beat Bangladesh in the final in Mirpur, hours after Australia had chased down South Africas 204 to level the three-match series at one-all, according to a release from the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Irrespective of which side now wins the series in Cape Town on Wednesday, it will not be enough to dislodge India from the top pedestal.
India, who won the inaugural World Twenty 20 in South Africa and finished runners-up in Bangladesh two years ago, are on 127 points, nine points clear of 2012 winner the West Indies and South Africa, who are on equal points (118). New Zealand are fourth on 116, followed by 2010 winners England in fifth, 2010 losing finalists Australia in sixth, 2009 champions Pakistan in seventh and defending champions Sri Lanka in eighth.
In the batting table, Indias Virat Kohli is second and is followed by Rohit Sharma (11th). Suresh Raina is in the 16th spot ahead of Yuvraj Singh (22nd), Dhoni (43rd) and Shikhar Dhawan (48th).
In the absence of Sunil Narine, second-ranked Ravichandran Ashwin will start as the highest-ranked bowler while Ravindra Jadeja is 11th, Jasprit Bumrah is 27th and Yuvraj is 43rd.
Yuvraj is also Indias highest ranked all-rounder in sixth position.
Although India seem to be the in-form side and the team to beat in the upcoming World Twenty20, the fact is that neither has any side won the competition twice nor has any home side lifted the silverware in front of its home crowd. Whether this will change come April 3, only time will tell.
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