Dubai: After a comprehensive 2-0 away victory over Bangladesh, India, the number one test team in the world, gained one rating point to extend their lead to five points while Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan made comebacks to the top 10 ICC Test Players rankings, issued on Thursday.

Wins in both the test matches in Chittagong and Mirpur have placed India at 125 points with South Africa, whom they are scheduled to play next in a two match test series starting February 6, at the second place with 120 points. The rankings of both the teams has made the upcoming series even more exciting, with India playing to defend their No. 1 position while South Africa aiming to regain the top spot.

A win in the test series will make South Africa the number one team. However, they will slip behind Australia in third position if India wins both the Tests.

In the player rankings, Tendulkar made a comeback to the top 10 batsman for the first time since December 2005.

Tendulkar started the series at 14th spot and scored 105 not out and 16 in the first Test in Chittagong. He was at the 13^th position going into the second test and jumped four places to ninth spot after hitting his 45^th century in test cricket.

Besides Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid too moved up the order. Dravid, who scored 111 before being retired hurt in the second test at Mirpur, has jumped four places to occupy the 15th position. However, VVS Laxman has dropped four places to 19th spot after missing out on the second Test due to injury.

Among others, top-ranked Gautam Gambhir has extended his lead over South Africa’s Graeme Smith and Virender Sehwag has consolidated his sixth position.

Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal made progress in the right direction after scoring 151 in Mirpur which has helped him gain 13 places to share 42nd spot with New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum.

In the Test bowlers’ chart, Zaheer Khan is now India’s highest-ranked bowler in sixth position. Zaheer jumped five places after recording his maiden 10-wicket haul in the Mirpur Test. Zaheer finished with figures of 10-149 to win the man-of-the-match award.

Teammate Harbhajan Singh, however, has slipped two places to eighth position after managing just two wickets in the match.

Tagged with: Bangladesh, Dubai, Gautam Gambhir, Graeme Smith, India, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, South Africa, Tamim Iqbal, VVS Laxman, Zaheer Khan

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