In what comes as a significant achievement for Team India, the Rohit Sharma-led side regained their position at the top of the ICC Men’s Test Rankings on January 17, 2023. While it was Australia who were the number 1 ranked Test side, as per the latest update the Men in Blue have more rating points than the Kangaroos and thus find themselves at the top of the rankings.

The top-two Test teams in the world, as per the latest rankings, will compete in a four-match Test series when Australia tour India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting next month. 

India have 3,690 points and a rating of 115 after 32 Tests while Australia have 3,231 points and a rating of 111 from 29 matches. England are number 3 in world in the longest format as of now with 106 rating points while the inaugural World Test Championship winners New Zealand find themselves at the 4th place in the Test rankings with 100 rating points. South Africa with a rating of 85 complete the top 5.

How did India surpass Australia?

It is pertinent to note that while series wins over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh helped India make an improvement in their rating points, Australia too had a great run in the traditional format of the game with Test series wins over West Indies and South Africa.

However, while the Indian team won both their matches against Bangladesh, Australia only managed a draw in their last Test match against South Africa which was a rain-affected affair. That seems to have taken a toll on their rankings and cost them their the tag of the number 1 team in the world.

However, Pat Cummins & Co. would be aware that they not only have an opportunity to make amends by beating India in India and regain their place at the top of the rankings table, by doing so they can even deny India a place in their second successive World Test Championship final.