IND vs SL 2017: Virat Kohli’s India to lose top ICC ODI rankings

India will lose top ranking if they dont whitewash Sri Lanka in the ODI series.

The ODI series starts from December 10. (NDTV)

Virat Kohli’s Team India is leading the ICC Test rankings after their series victory over Sri Lanka at home. They now will be playing the same opposition in a limited overs series comprising of  3 ODIs and 3 T20Is.

Thereafter they will be venturing on an African safari where they will be playing South Africa in a full-fledged series. Many believed this series against Sri Lanka to be a dress rehearsal for the much-awaited series. As the teams gear up for a three-ODI series starting Sunday, the home team’s top world ranking status is on line in the seemingly redundant contest. Whether India would finish 2017 as the No 1 ODI side would depend on the scoreline of the three-game affair.

If India lose just one match against Sri Lanka, they would be dethroned as the top side in the ICC ODI rankings.

Currently, Virat Kohli’s India and South Africa jointly hold the No 1 position with 120 rating points. Only a 3-0 sweep against Sri Lanka would ensure that India reaches 121 rating points and finish the year as No 1.

This leaves this ODI series as a must-win series for  Virat Kohli and his boys. Even if India win 2-1, their rating point will go down to 119 and South Africa will end the year as the No 1 side. If any of the matches are abandoned and the series is tied at 1-1, India will still become No 2 in the ranking chart. In the case of India losing the series, they will not go below No 2 in the ranking charts.

 
 

By Anshuman Roy - 08 Dec, 2017

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