The Indian cricket team has captured the ongoing T20 series against New Zealand by clinching the first three matches in dominant fashion. Following this stellar hat-trick of victories, Shreyas Iyer and his squad have surged closer to the pinnacle of the ICC T20 rankings. England's grip on the number one position is now facing a severe threat as the ratings between the two top contenders have drawn nearly even with two matches still remaining in the bilateral series.
Rating Boost Closes The Gap At The Top
Before the start of the New Zealand tour, official ICC T20 rankings on October 21 showed India positioned with a rating of 267, while England sat comfortably at the summit with 269 rating points. Following three consecutive wins for the visiting side, India's rating climbed to 269 by October 28. Although the raw points are now tied, decimal calculations keep England narrowly ahead, though their supremacy at the top is clearly vulnerable.
Clean Sweep Path To The Top Spot
The fourth match of the India versus New Zealand T20 series is scheduled for Friday, followed by the final fixture on Sunday. Should India complete a comprehensive whitewash by winning all five encounters, the team will definitively surpass England and reclaim the number one spot in international T20 cricket. The momentum from the current victories gives the squad a prime opportunity to alter the top of the standings.
Standings For Australia, New Zealand, And Pakistan
Beyond the top two spots, Australia holds firm in third place with 260 rating points. New Zealand entered the series with a rating of 247, which has now dropped to 245 following their defeats, though they retain the fourth position. South Africa follows closely behind in fifth place with 243 points. Meanwhile, Pakistan misses out on the top five entirely, languishing in the sixth position with a rating of just 240.
