The Indian men’s cricket team has dropped to third place in the ICC Test rankings following their disappointing 1-3 defeat to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India now sits with 109 rating points, a significant fall considering their back-to-back appearances in the World Test Championship (WTC) finals. England, ranked fourth, follows closely with 106 rating points. Australia, the current World Test Champions, lead the rankings with 126 points, while South Africa moves up to second place with 112 points after dominating Pakistan in a recent Test series at home.
India’s slip in the rankings was highlighted by their poor form against Australia, particularly the struggles of star players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. India had started the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a commanding 295-run win over Australia in November 2024, but they couldn’t maintain their momentum. The team suffered three consecutive losses, including a painful 10-wicket defeat in Adelaide and an 184-run loss in Melbourne, with the third Test in Brisbane ending in a rain-affected draw.
South Africa’s recent wins against Pakistan helped them climb to second place, while Australia’s strong performance not only ensured their top spot in the Test rankings but also secured their spot in the WTC final. They will face South Africa in a highly anticipated final at Lord’s from June 11-15, 2025. For India, the drop to third place exposes key concerns, particularly the form of their senior players, as they aim to bounce back in future series.
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