Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir has slammed the International Cricket Council’s ranking system after it removed points accumulated by teams from the 2016-17 season thereby dethroning India from the top spot.
India had been the No.1 Test team since October 2016, and its 42-month reign came to an end when the ranking system was updated and Australia rose to the top. India is now third in the recent rankings after New Zealand.
“I am not surprised, because I don’t believe in all these rankings, points system, probably the worst was the points system what was there in World Test Championship, you get same points if you win a Test match away from home, that’s ridiculous…,” Gambhir said on the Star Sports show Cricket Connected.
The cricketer-turned-politician added that India are hands down the most competitive side.
“If you have to see from the overall impact point of view, yes, India has lost a Test series away from home, they have won in Australia, but they have been the most competitive side, hands down, they won a Test match in South Africa, they won a Test match in England and probably not many other countries have done that,” said Gambhir.
Questioning Australia’s rise to the top, Gambhir pointed out that they have been “pathetic” in subcontinent conditions.
“For me, India should be there [No. 1] because Australia... I have serious doubts. On what front you have you given Australia the number one Test ranking, because they have been pathetic away from home, especially in the subcontinent,” the former India opener said.
