Dubai: India lost their number one status to Sri Lanka after being defeated in the World Twenty20 final, but star batsman Virat Kohli and spinner Ravichandran Ashwin attained career-high positions of second and third, respectively, in the latest ICC rankings issued here on Monday.
“Sri Lanka reclaimed the number-one position on the Reliance ICC T20I Team Rankings Table, after it beat India in the final to win the tournament for the first-time ever. Sri Lanka gained three ratings points to finish on 133, three ahead of India, to move into the top position,” the ICC said in a statement.
“Before the semifinals began, India had gone past Sri Lanka to become the number-one ranked side. The final therefore was also a contest for either side to reclaim or retain the top spot.”
Kohli, named Player-of-the-Tournament, ended as the highest run-getter of the competition with 319 runs at an average of 106.33 and a strike-rate of 129.14.
He scored an unbeaten 72 in the semifinal against South Africa and followed that up with a knock of 77 in the final against Sri Lanka.
These efforts helped Kohli gain 68 ratings points to move up to a best-ever 889, just three behind number-one ranked Australia batsman Aaron Finch.
The only other India batsman in the top 10 is Suresh Raina, now in 10th place (down by three). Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera, in fifth, is the only batsman from his side in the top 10. South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has entered the top 10 for the first time and is now in sixth place (up by 11).
Meanwhile, India off-spinner Ashwin now shares third position on the bowlers’ table with Pakistan’s Saeed Ajmal.
Ashwin finished with 11 wickets in the tournament at an average of 11.27 and an economy rate of 5.35 runs per over, ending as the fourth highest wicket-taker.
He had spells of three for 22 in the semifinal against South Africa and one for 29 in the final against Sri Lanka. These efforts helped him gain 25 ratings points to end at a best-ever 711.
The bowlers’ list is still headed by West Indies’ Samuel Badree with team mate Sunil Narine in second.
Meanwhile, MS Dhoni was named captain of the 2014 ICC World Team of the Tournament that figures four Indians, including Kohli.
Opener Rohit Sharma and Ashwin are the other two Indian players who feature in the team that was announced by the ICC.
Team of the Tournament: Rohit Sharma (India), Stephan Myburgh (Netherlands), Virat Kohli (India), JP Duminy (South Africa), Glenn Maxwell (Australia), MS Dhoni (India – captain, wicketkeeper), Darren Sammy (West Indies), Ravichandran Ashwin (India), Dale Steyn (South Africa), Samuel Badree (West Indies), Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka), 12th Player: Krishmar Santokie (West Indies). (PTI)