India vs Australia T20I series: The hosts eye no.2 spot in the ICC T20I rankings

India has a great chance to climb to the no. 2 spot in the ICC T20I by whitewashing Australia in the 3-match T20I series starting on October 7. The ODI leg of the tour was also won by Men in Blue by 4-1 as the visitors looked hapless in front of the wrist spinners. Also, Virat Kohli can strengthen his top spot as the batsman in the shortest format with Aaron Finch (currently no. 2) and Glenn Maxwell (no. 5) closing in on him.

Jasprit Bumrah, the lead pace bowler for India in recent times, is currently ranked no. 2 with only 5 points behind the no. 1 ranked Imad Wasim. A strong showing the three T20Is against the team from down under will see Bumrah topple Imad and reach the pinnacle of the T20I bowlers’ rankings. The only other bowlers in the top 20 from either side are James Faulkner (No.7) and Ravichandran Ashwin (No.11), neither of whom are in the T20I squad.

As far as the team rankings are concerned, unlike ODIs the battle is between two of the lowest ranked sides. India is currently at fifth position with 116 points and Australia is ranked no. 7 with 110 points in the shortest format of cricket. But all of that could change by the conclusion of the series. Kohli and his men have a great chance of skittling Pakistan from the no. 2 position by beating Australia 3-0. However, the visitors too can climb to the third position if they manage to defeat the Men in Blue in all three games.

Here are the various permutations and combinations of rankings ahead of the series:

1. India wins the series 3-0

India will gain six points and move to 122 points at second rank with only 3 points adrift of New Zealand who are at the helm in the T20Is. Australia, in this case, will lose as many as 8 points with 102 points against their name but will remain on seventh position.

2. India win series 2-1

If India fail to whitewash Australia and still win the series 2-1, they will remain at No.5, but will gain two points and will end the series with 118 points. They will crawl to within a point of England, at fourth place, and will only be two points behind World champions West Indies and three points behind No.2 ranked Pakistan. If Australia manages to win just one of the two matches and lose the other one, they will continue to remain at No.7 but will lose two points and finish on 108.

3. Australia win series 2-1

In case, India loses this series they will be down to the sixth spot and will have 113 points. Australia, on the other hand, will climb to the fifth spot but only a solitary point ahead of their opponent and will finish on 114 points. They will still be five points behind fourth-placed England heading into the Ashes.

4. Australia win series 3-0

The highly unlikely scenario given the form of Steve Smith and his troops. Even if they manage to spring a surprise and pull out a rabbit out of the hat to whitewash the hosts, they will reach to 120 points at third place just decimals ahead of the World Champions Windies. India will then replace Australia at seventh position by losing six points.