Race for top team ranking hots up following thrilling T20 World Cup

Friday, 18 November 2022 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Newly crowned T20 World Champions England are closing in on India at the top of the MRF Tyres ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings.

The gap between the top two men's T20I teams is starting to diminish with England now within arm's length of table-toppers India. England's triumphant ICC Men's T20 World Cup campaign has brought down the difference between the two sides to just three points.

Before the start of the T20 World Cup, India (268) had a five-point edge over England (263). Rohit Sharma's men then went on to win four of their five matches in the group stages while England only managed three, thus further increasing the gap to six points ahead of their semi-final clash.

In the semi-final, Jos Buttler's men crushed India by 10 wickets in a lop-sided encounter and followed it up with a thrilling win over Pakistan to clinch the T20 World Cup title at the MCG.

As things stand, India are placed on top with 268 points while England are at 265. Pakistan are placed third with 258 points and have South Africa (256), New Zealand (253) and Australia (252) tailing them.

Pakistan started the T20 World Cup with 259 points and despite making the final, lost a rating point in the T20I Team Rankings at the end of the tournament. That was down to Babar Azam's men losing three of the six games, including the final against England.

With less than 12 months remaining before the Cricket World Cup, T20 action will be few and far between. Though India has a chance to increase the gap at the top when they face New Zealand in the three-match T20I series that starts on 18 November in Wellington.

A 3-0 result in favour of India - who are going to be led by dynamic all-rounder Hardik Pandya - would see them move to 269 rating points.

On the other hand, if Kane Williamson's New Zealand inflict a 3-0 whitewash, England will take over top spot from India while the Black Caps themselves jump ahead of South Africa and close in on Pakistan.

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