KEY POINTS
- Both teams are closely ranked, vying for a chance to climb the ICC Test rankings with a series win.
- South Africa holds the third spot in the ICC rankings, just one point behind England, while India is in fourth.
- Australia leads the rankings with 124 points, leaving both India and South Africa in pursuit of a higher position.
ISLAMABAD: India and South Africa are gearing up for an exciting two-match Test series starting November 14, and the latest ICC Men’s Test rankings indicate that both teams have a lot at stake in terms of improving their standings.
As they face off in this highly anticipated series, both sides are in close competition to move up the rankings and make their mark on the international stage.
India and South Africa Eye Rankings Boost
With the updated ICC Test rankings released ahead of the series, India and South Africa are positioned closely in the battle for higher spots.
South Africa, the current World Test Championship titleholders, sit in third place with 111 rating points, just one point behind England, who are ranked second with 112 points.
India, on the other hand, are closely trailing in fourth place with 108 points, and both teams are eager to close the gap on second-ranked England and top-ranked Australia.
With Australia leading the pack with 124 points, India and South Africa will look to secure victories in this series to gain valuable ranking points and strengthen their position in the global cricket hierarchy.
The Series: Eden Gardens and Guwahati in Focus
The series opener will take place at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, a venue that is making its much-awaited return to India’s Test calendar for the first time since 2019.
That year, India beat Bangladesh by an innings in the first-ever pink-ball Test hosted in the country, adding another historic chapter to the venue’s legacy.
The two teams last faced each other at Eden Gardens in 2010, with India leveling the series 1-1 after a thrilling match that saw Harbhajan Singh’s five-wicket haul help India overcome a first-match deficit.
That memorable encounter was also marked by Hashim Amla’s brilliant twin hundreds (114 & 123*), despite South Africa’s loss.
The second match of the series will be held at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, which will make its Test debut.
This new venue adds a fresh dimension to the series, offering an exciting prospect for both teams as they aim to dominate both the field and the rankings.
Recent History and Rivalry
The rivalry between India and South Africa has been fiercely contested in recent years. In the most recent series between the two in 2023-24, India managed to bounce back from an opening loss to level the series 1-1, securing a seven-wicket win in the second match after losing by an innings and 32 runs in the first.
South Africa’s last Test tour of India in 2019 ended in a 3-0 series whitewash, with India asserting their dominance at home.
Overall, the head-to-head record is tight, with South Africa winning 18 Tests compared to India’s 16. The two sides have also seen 10 draws, showcasing the competitive nature of their encounters.
ICC Men’s Test Rankings Ahead of the Series
Ahead of the series, the rankings reveal a neck-and-neck battle for supremacy in the Test format. Australia, leading the pack with 124 rating points, have set the benchmark for the other teams.
With just a few points separating the top four teams, India and South Africa are both in a prime position to make a significant climb in the rankings based on the outcome of this series.
Latest ICC men’s Test team rankings before IND vs SA
Rank Team Matches Points Rating
1 Australia 30 3732 124
2 England 40 4469 112
3 South Africa 28 3107 111
4 India 36 3881 108
5 New Zealand 25 2409 96
6 Sri Lanka 27 2364 88
7 Pakistan 25 2050 82
8 West Indies 29 2036 70
9 Bangladesh 27 1648 61
10 Ireland 5 152 30
