India reclaim number one position in Test rankings after thumping win over New Zealand

India on Monday (December 6) returned to the number one spot in the Test rankings after beating New Zealand by a comprehensive margin of 372 runs in the second Test in Mumbai. India have thus displaced New Zealand from the helm who are now placed second with 121 points. India sits pretty at the top with 124 points. They are followed by Australia (108), England (107), Pakistan (92), South Africa (88), Sri Lanka (83), West Indies (75), Bangladesh (49) and Zimbabwe (31).

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The Kohli-led side are also placed third on the Test Championship points table. India have 42 points, with a win percentage of 58.33. Sri Lanka and Pakistan occupy the first and second spots respectively.

Speaking about the India vs New Zealand second Test, the hosts hardly put a foot wrong in a crushing win. Mayank Agarwal sizzled in the first innings with a brilliant 150 before Ravi Ashwin helped India bundle out New Zealand for 62 runs. Kohli didn’t enforce the follow-on and batted in the second innings.

India declared their second inning on 276 for seven, setting the visitors a monumental task of 540 to chase in the fourth innings. New Zealand batters managed to fare slightly better in the second dig but could only score 167. Skipper Kohli was delighted with the thumping performance and lavished praise on the team’s clinical showing.

"To come back with a win is a great feeling, returning as the captain it was a clinical performance, something we've seen time and again," said Kohli. "You want individuals to step up, and guys did that. Even the first Test match was good, this was better."

Skipper Kohli also achieved a milestone as he became the first player to register 50 wins in all three formats of the game.