Windies breathing down India’s neck in T20 rankings

DELHI, India, CMC-Newly crowned World T20 champions West Indies have moved within sight of number-one ranked India after recapturing the title they first won in 2012.

West Indies defeated 2010 champions England by four wickets in Sunday’s final and has moved ahead of New Zealand in second place, according to the latest ICC team rankings released yesterday.

The West Indies is now on 125 points, one point behind India which lost to them in the second semi-final in Mumbai last week.

New Zealand, which lost to England in the first semi-final in Delhi on Wednesday, has retained its third place at 120 points while England is now fourth after swapping places with South Africa.

Meantime West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels, who won the player of the final award, has also returned to the top 20 and is in 18th position.

The top-order batsman scored eight in the semi-final and 85 not out in the final which has helped him rise five places to share the position with South Africa’s Quinton de Kock.

West Indies batsman Lendl Simmons has moved up by 17 places to 32nd while his team mate Johnson Charles is at 50th after moving up 14 places.

West Indies’ Samuel Badree is the number-one ranked bowler and he leads fellow wrist-spinner Imran Tahir of South Africa by 50 points, while India’s Ravichandaran Ashwin is in third position, another 28 points behind.

Andre Russell is among bowlers outside the top 25 to make an impact in the latest rankings after moving up 18 places to 58th.