India have a chance to rise to the top of the ICC Test rankings for the first time when they return to the historic Brabourne Stadium after a 36-year absence for the third and final cricket Test against Sri Lanka starting today.
India can move past South Africa and Sri Lanka as the world’s top-ranked Test-playing nation if they beat the visitors.
India won the second Test by an innings and 144 runs at Kanpur on Sunday after the high scoring first Test at Ahmedabad ended in a draw.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that becoming the top Test nation was less important than winning the series.
“We are not thinking about the ranking because you don’t really want to be under pressure, you just want to play your natural game,” he said. “We know if we keep winning, the ratings will take care of themselves.”
India will go into the match without Gautam Gambhir, who scored centuries in each of his past four Tests, as the opener is attending his sister’s wedding. Murali Vijay is set to replace him.
Sri Lanka will likely be without fast bowler Dammika Prasad, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury. Nuwan Kulasekera or Dilhara Fernando are likely to replace him.
Brabourne stadium was Mumbai’s home of cricket from 1948 until it hosted its last Test in 1973. It was chosen for the Sri Lanka match while regular venue Wankhede Stadium undergoes renovations.
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