18 August,2016 08:40 AM IST | | PTI
To retain No 1 ranking and register a rare third victory against the West Indies, Kohli & Co will eye a big win in final Test which starts at Port of Spain today
Virat Kohli's India have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series against West Indies after winning the first and third Test. The second Test ended in a draw. Pic/AFP
Port of Spain (Trinidad): On a high after sealing the series with comprehensive victories, an upbeat India will be aiming to complete a 3-0 rout in order to retain its No 1 Test ranking when they meet a listless West Indies in the final Test match of the series, here today. India have never won three Tests in a series in the Caribbean.
Virat Kohli's India have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series against West Indies after winning the first and third Test. The second Test ended in a draw. Pic/AFP
India have secured the No 1 position in the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Test rankings replacing Australia.
Australia lost the third Test against hosts Sri Lanka in Colombo by 163 runs to be whitewashed 0-3 in their series, allowing India to climb to the position, an ICC release said yesterday. India are on top with 112 points, just above Pakistan (111).
Aiming for the kill
Having already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series after their crushing 237-run win in the third Test, Virat Kohli and his men will be aiming to go for the kill in their bid to retain the pole position in the ICC Test rankings list.
However, a draw at the Queen's Park Oval would mean that Australia will maintain their top position while Pakistan by virtue of their creditable 2-2 draw against England will be the No 2 Test team.
With skipper Kohli making it clear that he will like to have Rohit Sharma at No 5 and promote himself to No 3, it is unlikely that the core batting line-up will have any change in the final Test match.
However with Shikhar Dhawan not having much of a performance barring his 84 in the opening Test, it will be interesting to see if Murali Vijay, who was dropped in the last game despite being fit makes a comeback in the playing XI. The opener's thumb injury has fully healed, as announced by batting coach Sanjay Bangar previously.
