India lead South Africa by five points and need to win two matches in order to stop falling behind the Proteas.
The five-match ODI series, which starts at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium in Uppal, Hyderabad, on Friday, presents Team India an opportunity to not only get back at England, but also take the No. 4 slot in the ICC ODI rankings.
The Indian cricket team continued to be second in the ICC Test rankings with R Ashwin topping the all-rounders' chart in the latest list issued on Sunday.
The comparisons between Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar keep on growing and many have picked the current Indian skipper to break the records set by Tendulkar.
India gained five points to move up to third place with South Africa maintaining its pole position in the latest International Cricket Council ODI team rankings.
India dropped two points but managed to retain their second position in the latest ICC ODI rankings.
The competition begins with a series between world champions England and Ireland, beginning at Southampton on July 30. The rest of the schedule will be unveiled later.
'Pakistan can beat any team on any given day'
Ravichandran Ashwin said on Tuesday that star Pakistan batter Babar Azam "should not be mentioned in the same line" as Indian icon Virat Kohli
Mohammad Siraj has reclaimed the No 1 position among bowlers in the MRF Tyres ICC men's ODI player rankings after his sensational haul of 6/21 against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final.
After suffering a 1-2 series loss in South Africa, India dropped to the third spot
India created history on Friday by taking over as the number one team in the ICC ODI rankings. Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his boys outclassed New Zealand by six wickets in the second match of the tri-series in Colombo, on Friday, which also ensured that they toppled South Africa from the top of the rankings
He is the first Indian player since Sachin Tendulkar in June 2011 to lead the rankings and ends Steve Smith's 32-month spell at the top.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni continued to top the ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen, while young guns Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli made big strides in the chart following stellar performances in the just-concluded tri-series in Bangladesh.
Criticised for maintaining a stoic silence on the IPL spot-fixing scandal, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has said that the number one ranking in the ODIs brings with it certain respect in the way the players "conduct themselves" on the field.
India will be keen to go one step ahead and claim the title that has eluded them
India are placed fifth while three-time champions Australia lead the 46-team table as the International Cricket Council (ICC), on Friday, launched global Women's T20I Team Rankings.
Dhoni's journey from a humble ticket collector to a trophy-laden wicketkeeper-batter is an inspiration for aspiring athletes worldwide
India will enter the 11th edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup in second spot behind leaders Australia.
Siraj, Shubman nominated for ICC Player of the Month Award
South Africa progressed in the ICC ODI ranking due to their convincing 4-1 series win against England.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja became the first Indian bowler to top the bowlers' chart in the latest ICC ODI Player Rankings after former captain Anil Kumble claimed the pole position way back in 1996.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has regained the number-one batting position while his side has returned to second spot in the Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Championship after its two matches in the Asia Cup in Dambulla, Sri Lanka.
Among others, Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan has moved up to take top position among bowlers with some fine performances in a 2-0 series win over Zimbabwe.
Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz surpasses Babar Azam, goes level with stalwart Virat Kohli for special feat in ODI
As the battle for semi-final berths intensifies in Group B, top-ranked South Africa will aim to assert their dominance and secure a spot in the final four when they face a struggling England in a high-stakes Champions Trophy clash in Karachi on Saturday.
Harmanpreet, who was the second highest run-maker during the recently concluded ICC Women's World T20 event, gained three slots to reach the third position.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, named the player of the series following India's 5-0 whitewash over England in the ODI tournament, jumped two places to reach the third spot in the latest ICC rankings on Wednesday.
India's dismal performance in the international season gone by pushed them down the ladder in the ICC Test rankings with the team finishing fifth in the annual updated list.
Sri Lanka has dislodged India to take second position in ICC ODI Cricket Rankings after securing a confidence-boosting series win over table-topper Australia.
This is Ravichandran Ashwin's sixth stint at the top of the rankings. He first became number one in December 2015.
India moved up a rung to second spot, ahead of England, in the latest ICC Test rankings, issued on Monday, while South Africa strengthened its position as the numero uno side after the annual update of the championship table.
India must win the upcoming five-match One-day series against New Zealand to retain their number one status in the ICC team rankings.
With the world's top one-day batsman -- Graeme Smith -- leading them, the South Africans are all set to "thump" India in the upcoming three-match Test series, declared Cricket South Africa chief Gerald Majola. Lauding the in-form Smith for guiding the team to the top of the ICC ODI rankings, Majola said the South Africans will be a tough proposition for the home side.
India will launch its ICC Champions Trophy title defence against traditional rivals Pakistan at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on June 4. Check out the complete schedule.
Sachin Tendulkar, whose batting records and impact on international cricket have stood the test of time, was on Saturday conferred with the Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award
Ricky Ponting though added that captaincy will be the "hardest thing" for the premier fast bowler.
India's journey into their ODI future will hit its first stop during the opening match against South Africa on Sunday.
Former Australia spinner Brad Hogg reckons that Virat Kohli is better than Rohit Sharma in limited overs cricket because of his consistency during run-chases.
The India wicketkeeper trails third-placed Michael Hussey of Australia by 10 points in the ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen.
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