The series-levelling win in the third Test against South Africa has helped India retain the second place in the ICC [Images] Test Championship table.

India had come into this Test facing the possibility of slipping to fourth on the ladder after South Africa won the second Test in Ahmedabad by an innings and 90 runs following a drawn first Test in Chennai.

India win 3rd Test, level series 1-1 | Score | Pix

However Harbhajan Singh [Images], Ishant Sharma and Virender Sehwag [Images] shared 16 wickets between them while man-of-the-match Sourav Ganguly [Images] and VVS Laxman stroked half-centuries to script an eight-wicket victory in Mahendra Singh Dhoni's [Images] first match as India's Test captain.

The series result means India has successfully defended the position it claimed at the conclusion of its tour of Australia earlier this year while South Africa now lies third after entering the series in fourth position.

The Proteas had climbed one place after Sri Lanka [Images] drew its series against the West Indies [Images] and consequently dropped two places in the Championship table.

Australia still leads the table, 30 rating points ahead of India.