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Rediff.com  » Cricket » Defending champs India in second spot as World Cup beckons

Defending champs India in second spot as World Cup beckons

Last updated on: February 02, 2015 16:42 IST
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India players celebrate a wicket

India players celebrate a wicket. Photograph: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

India will enter the 11th edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup in second place, behind leaders Australia.

After failing to win a single game in the just-concluded tri-series in Australia, which also involved England, the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side trail Australia by six points in the ODI rankings.

- ICC ODI Team Rankings

- ICC ODI Player Rankings

Australia, who won the tri-series after humbling England in the final, are comfortably placed at the top with 120 ranking points followed by India (114) and South Africa (113).

With just a few more international matches left to go before the the 50-over showpiece event starts on February 14 in Australia and New Zealand, the 14 competing teams are gearing up for the warm-up matches, slated between February 8 and 13.

Virat Kohli

India's Virat Kohli. Photograph: Philip Brown/Reuters

Meanwhile, in the player rankings, India's Virat Kohli is at number three in the batsmen's chart with South Africa's AB de Villers and Hashim Amla at the No. 1 and 2 respectively.

Other Indians in the top-10 of the batting table include Shikhar Dhawan (7), who had a poor outing in the tri-series, and Dhoni at number eight.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar of India celebrates

Bhuvneshwar Kumar of India celebrates taking a wicket. Photograph: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

The bowling, which is a major cause of worry for the Men in Blue ahead of the World Cup, also disappoints with no Indian in the top-10 of the bowling chart.

Medium-pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar (13) and Ravindra Jadeja (14) are the only Indian bowlers in the top-20, headed by Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal.

In what promises to be an exciting World Cup, a total of 42 matches will be played throughout the group stage of the tournament.

The top four teams from each pool will qualify for the quarter-finals.

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