Rare chance for India to be No. 1 again

India have had a horror run in international cricket lately, but the world champions have the chance to end Australia’s reign as the number one in one-day internationals.

MS Dhoni’s boys are currently placed fourth, but can leapfrog straight to the first space if it sweeps Sri Lanka 5-0 in the upcoming series in the island nation.

The World Cup finalists will play five ODIs and a T20 starting 21 July. (See series schedule)  India were briefly number one in ODIs in 2009, a position they lost swiftly and have not been able to reclaim despite their World Cup win in 2011. Australia have held the position since then despite being a shadow of the champion side they were once.  Australia, led by Michael Clarke, had a disastrous ODI tour of England where they lost 4-0. This has tightened the ranking table. The top four teams are within two points of each other: Australia at 119, South Africa and England at 118 and India at 117.