India will attain the numero uno status in ICC Test ranking if they win the third and final cricket Test against Sri Lanka in Mumbai beginning from December 2.
Starting the three-Test series against Sri Lanka at 119 points, India needed atleast three points to reach the top and Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men inched closer to the number one spot after registering an emphatic win over the Islanders in Kapur on friday.
"In Test cricket, the ranking points are awarded only after the series is over. So the position will become clear when the series ends in Mumbai," an ICC spokesman said.
The spokesman said it will be incorrect to say at this stage that India have become the number one team on the basis of points they have gained from the victory in the second Test in Kanpur.
Although the ranking list will be officially updated only after the series is over, India is currently joint first with South Africa with 122 points. Sri Lanka is placed third with 117 points, while Australia has 116 points.
India will go on top if it beats Sri Lanka by 2-0 or better. In case of a 2-0 win, India will climb to 124 ratings points (two ahead of South Africa).
India's 2-0 win will drop Sri Lanka from second place to fourth position behind Australia on 115 ratings points.
On the other hand, if Sri Lanka can pull off a win in the third test to level the series 1-1, the status quo will be maintained. PTI
