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DUBAI: India on Monday sealed the numero uno spot in the ICC Twenty20 rankings after Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s side won the Asia Cup in Mirpur and will now enter the World T20 as the top team.
India clinched the Asia Cup trophy after beating hosts Bangladesh by eight wickets in Mirpur last night and strengthened their reputation as a strong title contender for the upcoming ICC World Twenty20.
In Johannesburg, Australia had chased down South Africa’s 204 to level the three-match T20 series 1-1 on Sunday. But 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.
Hence, hosts India will enter the World T20 as the number-one ranked side.
India, who won the inaugural event in South Africa and finished runner-up in Bangladesh two years ago, are on 127 points, nine clear of 2012 winners West Indies and South Africa, who are on equal points (118).
In the T20 batting table, India’s Virat Kohli is placed second, followed by Rohit Sharma (11th), Suresh Raina (16th), Yuvraj Singh (22nd), Dhoni (43rd) and Shikhar Dhawan (48th).
In the absence of Sunil Narine of West Indies, second-ranked Ravichandran Ashwin will start as the highest-ranked bowler in the tournament, while Ravindra Jadeja is 11th, Jasprit Bumrah is 27th and Yuvraj is 43rd.(PTI)