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India look to consolidate on No.2 ranking in ODIs during series against South Africa

India lost the T20I series against South Africa ahead of the ODI series.

MS Dhoni will get a chance to redeem themselves if he manages to lead India to an ODI series win © AFP
MS Dhoni will get a chance to redeem themselves if he manages to lead India to an ODI series win © AFP

India are all set to take on South Africa in a five-match One-Day International (ODI) series, beginning at Green Park Kanpur on Sunday, in a view to consolidate their No.2 rankings in the shorter format. India are currently placed at No.2 in the rankings will have to win at least a couple of games to retain their No.2 position in ODIs. However, if the visitors are able to win the series 4-1, they will go past India in the rankings to second place, with India dropping down to third place. On the other hand a 5-0 win for India will see them closing the gap on Australia to eight points. India will be on 119 points in that scenario, with Australia on 127. Scorecard: India vs South Africa 2015, 1st ODI at Kanpur

Meanwhile, the top three batsmen in the player rankings will also feature in the series. South Africa ODI captain AB de Villiers holds a 73-point advantage over his compatriot and second-ranked Hashim Amla who, in turn, is 21 points clear of India’s Virat Kohli.

Apart from Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan (sixth) and Dhoni (eighth) are the other batsmen who represent the home side inside the top 10 and will be looking for upward movements during the series. Outside the top 10, Rohit Sharma (15th), Faf du Plessis (17th) and Suresh Raina (18th), Quinton de Kock (23rd), David Miller (26th), Jean-Paul Duminy (34th), Ajinkya Rahane (38th) and Ambati Rayudu (49th) will be aiming to improve their rankings. READ: India vs South Africa 2015, 1st ODI: Hosts aim to make up for T20I series loss

In the bowlers rankings, South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir will need to put up strong performances during the series if he has to retain his number-one position. The wrist spinner leads Australia’s Mitchell Starc, with fifth-ranked Dale Steyn not too far behind. Other bowlers looking to head in the right direction include Ravichandran Ashwin (ninth), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (10th), Morne Morkel (11th), Umesh Yadav (24th), Amit Mishra (45th) and Mohit Sharma (48th).

Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan holds a commanding lead at the top of the all-rounders list and the highest-ranked all-rounder on either side heading into the series is ninth-placed Duminy. READ: India vs South Africa 2015, 1st ODI: Security beefed up at Green Park Stadium, Kanpur ahead of clash

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