The hosts have hit nadir in both form and confidence, and, after a lop-sided 3-0 Test series victory, the script did not change much in the opening ODI, where India steamrolled the opposition by nine wickets.
Among other Indian batsmen, skipper Rahul Dravid also improved his position by moving a step up to 15th.
Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds rocketed six spots to second place and is now just eight points behind his captain, Ricky Ponting, in the latest ICC ODI rankings.
Dhoni's contribution is second to none in Indian cricket, says Ravi Shastri.
With only three balls remaining, Gulbadin Naib hit a six to clinch a narrow win and prompt delirious scenes in the Afghan capital, where heavily-armed cricket fans fired automatic rifles into the air.
India remained third, while star batsman Virat Kohli maintained his second spot in the latest ICC ODI rankings released on Sunday.
Australian captain Ricky Ponting and leg-spinner Shane Warne took top honours in the latest ICC Test batting and bowling rankings.
South African cricket captain AB de Villiers continued to script statistical history at the ongoing World Cup as he entered the top-10 of all-time scorers' list.
Chris Gayle was not at his brutal best in the IPL but Andre Russell's butchering of the bowlers has forced the teams to take note of what could await them at the World Cup.
India will be out to cut Australia's lead at the top of the ICC Test Championship table in the three-Test series against Pakistan.
India have never won an ODI series in South Africa, having lost 5-2 in 1992-93, 4-0 in 2006- 07, 3-2 in 2010-11 and 2-0 in 2013-14.
India have been drawn in the same group as Australia and England for the ICC Champions Trophy
Pakistan fast bowler Sohail Tanvir, who has been recalled to the national squad for the upcoming one-off T20 match against England, said that being in and out of the team on a regular basis can adversely impact the mental health of a player but added that he is determined to put his best foot forward in the next game.
Will Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa both play the 1st ODI in Chennai on Sunday?
"This Indian tendency to compare youngsters with established stars tends to burden the players and it must stop," says Sudeep Hota.
England have replaced South Africa as Australia's nearest rivals after winning six of their last seven Tests.
South Africa progressed in the ICC ODI ranking due to their convincing 4-1 series win against England.
Gary Kirsten has no doubts they will bounce back and be challenging for One-day cricket's most coveted trophy next year.
India secured their first ever series win in South Africa across formats when they beat the hosts by 73 runs in the fifth ODI on Tuesday.
Australia maintain their grip at the top of the standings on 129 points, with South Africa second on 116.
A 3-0 result against hosts Bangladesh in the three match ODI series will not be enough for second-placed India to claim the number one spot in the ICC rankings.
'We just want to play good cricket, we've been playing good cricket and that continues to be our main goal' 'New ODI rules will make players more focussed'
Pakistan senior batsman Azhar Ali, on Thursday stepped down as the One-day International captain after a meeting Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan in Dubai.
Chasing 294 for victory on a batting pitch, Hardik Pandya (78 off 72) and Manish Pandey (36 off 32) took India to the finish line after Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane had laid the platform for the victory with a 139-run opening stand.
South Africa won their first game at the World Cup, beating Afghanistan by nine wickets (DLS). Imran Tahir finished with figures of 4 for 29, the best figures by a spinner in the tournament so
Virat Kohli's Indian team will be aiming for another comprehensive show against a depleted Australia when the two sides square-off in the opening encounter of the five-match series, in Chennai, on Saturday.
Williamson has a chance to topple Kohli at the top of the rankings.
Virat Kohli and Steve Smith are on even keel as far as leadership qualities are concerned, feels former Australia skipper Michael Clarke even though he rates the Indian captain as a slightly better ODI batsman.
National chairman of selectors MSK Prasad on Tuesday said that he doesn't believe "you know more when you have played more", hitting back at his detractors for constantly demeaning his panel owing to its modest international record.
Fourth-ranked South Africa will aim to climb up to second position in the International Cricket Council One day International Team Rankings when they host world champions Australia in the five-match series from September 30.
India will enter the 11th edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup in second spot behind leaders Australia.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to tour Zimbabwe for three One-day Internationals and two T20Is, but would play the ODI series only after September 30 deadline, set by the ICC for the top eight teams in the ICC ODI rankings to qualify for the 2017 Champions Trophy.
Was it badminton sensation PV Sindhu, who became the first Indian to win the World Championships gold medal? Or is it the young shooting progidy Saurabh Chaudhary? Or his India colleague Elavenil Valarivan, who recently took over as World No 1? What about India's heroes on the cricketing field -- Virat Kohli? Rohit Sharma?
In the end, one of the most eagerly awaited matches of the tournament proved a damp squib as India utterly dominated every aspect of a stop-start, rain-interrupted 124-run victory.
No Indian men's side since its first tour in South Africa back in 1992, has ever won a series across any format
Sachin Tendulkar is the sixth Indian to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
Hashim Amla once again gave ample proof of why is he rated as one of the leading batsmen in world cricket. The South African right-hander, who is ranked second in the ICC ODI rankings, kept South Africa's hopes alive in the Champions Trophy with a gritty half-century against Pakistan.
England and India renew one of cricket's great rivalries at Edgbaston and, with so much on the line, it is no wonder the mercury is rising.
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