Having conceded a 0-3 lead to Australia in the four-Test series so far, the Indian cricket team is all set to lose its second place in the ICC Test ranking to South Africa.
Captain Ricky Ponting has promised to maintain Australia's aggression against the West Indies in the team's quest to climb back to the top of the ICC Test world rankings.
India captain Virat Kohli remained in second spot behind Steve Smith while Alastair Cook jumped nine places to be eighth in the latest ICC Test rankings after his unbeaten double century in the ongoing Ashes.
The Indians have not featured in ODIs in recent months but Kuldeep Yadav (650) and Ravindra Jadeja (616) still remained static at number three and number nine in the latest ODI rankings for bowlers.
India's position at the top of ICC's Test Championship table was on Sunday strengthened as a result of a drop in South Africa's rating points following their 1-1 draw with England in the four-match home series.
Australia returned to the top of the Test rankings for the first time since August 2009 on Thursday after sweeping an Ashes series and beating previous incumbents South Africa in their own backyard over the last six months.
India may have lost the ODI World Cup final to Australia but have increased their lead over them from three to six points, leading the table with 122 points.
A resurgent Australia leapfrogged to third spot in the latest ICC Test rankings after whitewashing England 5-0 in the Ashes series on Sunday.
Batting great Sachin Tendulkar said adaptability is the key to succeeding across all formats of cricket, stressing that a batter's backlift plays a crucial role in adjusting to the demands of the game.
Defending champions India look to do something they have never done in World Cups and retain the trophy.
Ravichandran Ashwin is the lone Indian to feature in the top 10 of the latest Reliance ICC Test Player Rankings as he continues to lead the way in the all-rounders list.
Despite dropping six points in the ICC Test rankings, R Ashwin remained on top of the points table, along with James Anderson.
Former India captain Mithali Raj has expressed concerns over the Indian women's cricket team's bowling department, citing a lack of "role clarity" ahead of crucial ICC Women's T20 World Cup matches. She believes bowling is India's weakest link, especially with Shreyanka Patil's injury and an out-of-form seam attack, while praising the batting strength led by Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh.
India retained its number-one ranking on the MRF Tyres ICC Test Team Rankings following the annual update in which series results from 2013-14 are no longer included and outcomes from the 2015-16 series are weighted at 50 per cent.
South Africa retained the iconic Reliance ICC Test Championship mace and with it won a cash award of $500,000 following its 2-0 series win over the West Indies in Cape Town on Tuesday.
Zimbabwe does not figure in the ICC's annual list released on Monday because they have played two Tests fewer than the minimum of 10 required for inclusion in the table involving only series completed after August 1, 2004.
Kane Williamson is the second New Zealand batsman after Glenn Turner to top the ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen following a man of the match performance in the Hamilton Test against Sri Lanka, which helped the home side win by five wickets and take the series 2-0.
India moved into second place in the ICC Test Championship table after beating South Africa in the four-Test series 3-0, in Delhi, on Monday.
India can pip South Africa to second position in the ICC Test rankings if they manage to win the ongoing series against the West Indies 3-0 and if Graeme Smith's side loses the upcoming two-Test rubber against Australia.
Kane Williamson was included in the New Zealand squad for December's three-Test series against West Indies.
The latest LG ICC Player Rankings for Test cricket saw Tendulkar drop four places to 16th.
India opener Virender Sehwag has stormed into the top five of the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen after scoring a superlative double-century against Sri Lanka in the third Test in Mumbai.
India's Ravindra Jadeja also remained on top of the all-rounders' table.
South Africa leapfrogged India to second place, pushing Anil Kumble's men to third, in the annual update of the ICC Test Championship. England too lost a place and slipped to fourth. Australia continues to be atop the table, thanks to their 2-0 victory against the West Indies in the Caribbeans.
Australia opened up a six-point lead over India at the top of the MRF Tyres ICC Test Team Rankings following the annual update, with the results from 2012-13 no longer included in the calculations and outcomes from the 2014-15 series weighted at 50 per cent.
South Africa quick Kagiso Rabada has dethroned Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah as the top bowler in the latest ICC Men's Test Player Rankings released on Wednesday.
Kohli, who made 0 and 62 in Chennai, stayed in fifth spot among batsmen with 838 points. Kane Williamson (919) of New Zealand retained the top position with Steve Smith (891) of Australia in second spot.
Pakistan vaulted into third position in the Reliance ICC Test Team Rankings, its best Test ranking in seven years, following the conclusion of its series against Australia in Abu Dhabi on Monday. Pakistan, who defeated Australia for its first series win in 20 years, leapfrogged England, Sri Lanka and India into third position after the feat earned it seven ratings points.
India's wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha and middle-order batsman Rohit Sharma have made significant gains and climbed up latest ICC Test rankings for batsmen.
Ashwin gained two places after taking six wickets in India's emphatic victory over Australia in the second Test in New Delhi.
Kiwi Ross Taylor's mammoth 290 in the WACA Test against Australia, propelled him to the top-10 list
NZ20 organisers initially planned to launch a six-team league of privately owned franchises for the coming summer but had agreed to hold off in part due to the international schedule, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said.
The Test batting chart is headed by Australia's Marnus Labuschagne (915 points), followed by England captain Joe Root (900) while New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson (879) dislodged Steve Smith (877) from the No. 3 slot.
ICC rejects BCB request, Bangladesh matches to be played in India as schedule
Australia captain Michael Clarke got his hands on the Reliance ICC Test mace, on Wednesday, a symbol of his side's status as the number-one ranked Test side in the world.
Pakistan have 120 points, 10 fewer than Australia and seven more than England, their hosts in a four-Test series starting at Lord's on Thursday.
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.
India have retained the fourth position in the ICC Test team rankings.
ICC apologises after incorrectly naming India as No.1 Test team over Australia
ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat feels that India's No 1 ranking in Test cricket is certainly on line after back-to-back defeats against England at Lord's and Trent Bridge, but the quality of the contest is pretty enthralling.
