India increase lead at top of ICC Test rankings

Ireland are due to play their first Test against Pakistan in Malahide, Dublin, from May 11 to 15 while Afghanistan's first Test will be against India in Bengaluru from June 14 to 18.

Sri Lanka remain in sixth position after losing one point while Zimbabwe have gained one point to reach two.

Windies have lost five points and are now on 67 points while Bangladesh have gained four points to reach 75, eight points clear of the Caribbeans.

Australia are placed third with 106 points after gaining four points following the update, taking back the position from New Zealand, who had overtaken them at the last cut-off date of April 3.

India and South Africa had won USD 1 million and USD 500,000, respectively for finishing first and second at the cut-off date. After the update, New Zealand remain on 102 points while England have inched closer, reaching 98 after gaining one point.

Bangladesh have moved ahead of the West Indies, who are in ninth position for the first time ever.

England have gained one point and sit fifth on the rankings table.

India, who played four Tests in the 2014-15 season losing 2-0 in Australia and had earlier lost the five-Test tour of England 3-1 in the summer of 2014, the move up was expected following an excellent run since, highlighted by 10 wins in 13 Tests in the 2016-17 season.

India have reached an aggregate of 125 while South Africa have lost five points and slipped to 112. South Africa, are however, still comfortably ahead of the remaining sides.

India continued to sit at the top of the latest ICC Test Team Rankings, ahead of South Africa and Australia.

with the results from 2014-15 being removed from the equation and those from 2015-16 and 2016-17 being weighted at 50 percent, India have stretched their lead over South Africa from 4 to 13 points.