New Delhi: Consistency is what makes India the top ranked team in the world, which they have been for the last few years, former England batter Ian Bell has pointed out.
India are ranked World No.1 in the current World Test Championship rankings having been runners-up in its previous two editions, getting beaten by New Zealand and Australia in the final.
They need to win at least four of their nine remaining Tests of the calendar to all but qualify for the final, having beaten Bangladesh in the first match to take a 1-0 lead in their ongoing two-home ongoing home series.
Rohit Sharma’s boys beat Bangladesh by 280 runs in Chennai and take them on in the second game in Kanpur from September 27. They have won their last 17 Test series on home soil and host New Zealand for three Tests after the Bangladesh series.
The team will then travel to Australia for a five-match series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy that they have retained for the four editions, including two Down Under.
“That’s what we’ve seen with India at the moment. They’ve managed to be able to win away from home as much as anyone and that’s the reason why they are the No. 1 team in the world at the moment,” Bell told PTI.
England failed to qualify for the finals of previous two WTC finals and will host India for five Test matches next year in June and July. Bell said England have to do well in the blockbuster series to entertain hopes of qualifying for the final.
“I’m sure they’ve got one eye on the next 12 months, which has five Test matches (against) India at home, which will be a huge challenge,” he said.
“India are probably the best team in the world at the moment, and then, Australia away. Those 10 Test matches on the road will be hugely important for that group of players and something they’re gearing themselves up for.
“We were the last team to win in India, which was obviously (a) part of the journey to get to No 1 and we won in Australia. For this England side to get to No 1, there’s no doubt, ability and talent-wise, they have that,” the former right hand batter added.
India are ranked World No.1 in the current World Test Championship rankings, having been runners-up in its previous two editions Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
