India Gain One Rating Point in Tests

Dubai: Thanks to their 2-0 series victory in Bangladesh, world number one India gained one rating point while Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan returned to the top 10 of ICC Test Players rankings, issued on Thursday.

Winning both the Test matches in Chittagong and Mirpur put India (125) five rating points ahead of South Africa (120).

It sets up an enthralling two-Test series between the two top-ranked teams, starting in Nagpur from February 6, with India trying to defend their position at the top of the table while South Africa aiming to regain the spot they conceded on December 6.

South Africa need to win the series to become the number one team. However, they will slip behind Australia in third position if India win both the Tests.

Individually, Tendulkar returned among the top 10 batsman first time since December 2005.

Tendulkar entered the series in 14th spot and scored 105 not out and 16 in the first Test in Chittagong. He started the second Test in 13th position and jumped four places to ninth spot after hitting his 45th career century.

Besides Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid too moved up the order. Dravid, who scored 111 before being retired hurt, has jumped four places to occupy the 15th position.

However, VVS Laxman has dropped four places to 19th spot after missing out on the second Test due to injury.

Among others, top-ranked Gautam Gambhir has extended his advantage over South Africa's Graeme Smith and Virender Sehwag has consolidated his sixth position.

Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal made an upward movement in the latest rankings. Tamim scored 0 and 151 in Mirpur and has vaulted 13 places to share 42nd spot with New Zealand's Brendon McCullum.

In the Test bowlers' chart, Zaheer has become India's highest-ranked bowler in sixth position.

Zaheer has jumped five places after recording his maiden 10-wicket haul in the Mirpur Test. Zaheer finished with figures of 10-149 to win the man-of-the-match award.

Team-mate Harbhajan Singh, however, has slipped two places to eighth position after managing just two wickets.

Scores	Upcoming	Results
West Indies vs Bangladesh - 3rd T20I Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan - 2nd ODI South Africa vs Pakistan - 2nd ODI 3rd ODI - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan - December 21, 07:30 GMT 3rd ODI - South Africa v Pakistan - December 22, 12:00 GMT 3rd Test - Australia v India at Brisbane Match drawn 2nd T20I - West Indies v Bangladesh at St Vincent Bangladesh won by 27 runs

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