India can become No. 3 in ODIs with 4-1 win against New Zealand

New Delhi, Oct 13: As Team India are going to lock horns with New Zealand, Men In Blue have an opportunity to improve their one-day international (ODI) rankings in the five-match series.

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At present, India are fourth in the ICC ODI Rankings with 110 points while New Zealand are at third place with 113 points.

"Trent Boult will start the India-NZ ODI series as the number-one ranked bowler, while host India will have an opportunity to gain one place and move into third position," said an ICC report.

If India win the upcoming five match ODI series by a margin of 4-1 or better then MS Dhoni & Company could claim the third position.

(Men In Blue have dominated Black Caps in bilateral contests)

"India (110 points) presently trail New Zealand (113 points) by three points and will need to win the series by 4-1 or better to claim the third position," the report added.

Boult moved up to take the top position after West Indies spinner Sunil Narine finished with only three wickets in the series against Pakistan in the UAE.

Australian opener David Warner has surged to a career-best third position in the ICC Players Rankings for ODI batsmen but Australia lost vital points in the ODI team rankings following a 5-0 whitewash at the hands of South Africa.

Warner has gained nine positions and moved into the top 10 for the first time after accumulating 386 runs during the series in South Africa.

South Africa leapfroged New Zealand and India to within two points of world champion Australia's tally of 118 points. South Africa had started the series tied at 110 points and gained six points, while Australia plunged from 124 to 118 points.

AB de Villiers remains firm at first position while India's Test skipper Virat Kohli is at the second spot.

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