Kohli starts series as highest-ranked batsman

Salt Lake City Sun (IANS) Saturday 4th February, 2012

Virat Kohli will be the highest-ranked batsman in the ODI tri-series that starts Sunday with a clash between India and Australia in Melbourne.

Kohli sits in third place of the rankings, 45 points behind South Africa's ODI captain AB De Villiers while Hashim Amla is on top, another 26 rating points ahead.

The other batsmen in the series inside the top-10 include India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (sixth), former Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara (seventh), Mike Hussey (eighth) and Michael Clarke (ninth).

Ravindra Jadeja is the top ranked Indian bowler in 13th position while Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga is the highest-ranked bowler in the series at 10th place.

Meanwhile, India will have a battle on their hands to keep their second position in team rankings. Number-one ranked Australia are on 130 ratings points, leading second-ranked current world champion India by 14 points with fourth-ranked Sri Lanka another five ratings points behind.

Sri Lanka could earn significant number of points if they are successful in the series. In contrast, Australia and India can lose points if they don't win most of their matches.

South Africa, who will be playing New Zealand in a three-match ODI series, are in third position, just one rating point behind India.