India aims for number-one spot on the T20I Championship table

India is presented with a chance to go top of the Reliance ICC T20I Championship table if it wins all four matches scheduled to be played against England and Pakistan before the end of 2012.

India plays England in a two-match series starting tomorrow in Pune and then squares off against its traditional rival Pakistan – also in a two-match series starting on 25 December in Bengaluru.

South Africa and New Zealand begin a three match series from 21 December with the opening game in Durban.

India is currently ranked third on the T20I Championship table with 120 ratings points. If India was to win all four matches, it will be propelled to the number-one rank with a gain of 12 ratings points and in doing so, will open up a five points lead over current number-one ranked Sri Lanka.

This will be the first time that India will have a chance of aiming for the number-one spot on the T20I Championship table since it was launched in October 2011.

If India was to lose even one of its four matches, the best it can hope to end 2012 is at the number-two spot. But if India loses all four of its matches against both England and Pakistan, it could slip to as low as seventh with 106 ratings points.

England and Pakistan can hope to push up a place if they win their games against India.

Meanwhile, South Africa could rise up to number-two spot if it wins the series against the Black Caps 3-0. But the final positioning for South Africa will be determined by the outcomes of India’s series against England and Pakistan.

The T20I Championship table, unlike the Test Championship table, is updated after every match.

The number-one ranked batsman on the Reliance ICC T20I Player Rankings table, New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, will get an opportunity to consolidate his hold at the top.

Also in action will be the top ranked bowler Saeed Ajmal who will get a chance to open up the lead since his closest rival and second ranked Graeme Swann will be missing from the England squad.

Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez will be the highest-ranked all-rounder in action. Hafeez is currently ranked second behind Australia’s Shane Watson.

The player rankings will now be updated on 29 December.

Upcoming fixtures:

India v England

20 Dec – 1st T20I, Pune

22 Dec – 2nd T20I, Mumbai

South Africa v New Zealand

21 Dec – 1^st T20I, Durban

23 Dec – 2^nd T20I, East London

26 Dec –3^rd T20I, Port Elizabeth

India v Pakistan

25 Dec – 1st T20I, Bengaluru

28 Dec – 2nd T20I, Ahmedabad