Shikhar Dhawan makes the top 10 of ODI batting for first time

DUBAI: India's Shikhar Dhawan has made it to the top 10 of the ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen for the first time in his career following his good showing against the West Indies in the three-match series.

Dhawan moved up two places to ninth position with a best-ever ratings points of 736 in the latest update which was released today, a day after the conclusion of Pakistan-South Africa series and the India-West Indies series that finished last Wednesday.

Dhawan has been rewarded for his 159 runs in the series which India won 2-1. Pakistan also beat South Africa by an identical margin.

Dhawan's movement has resulted in Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq slipping one position to 10th in the only other changes inside the top 10.

However, the results did not lead to any change on the ICC ODI Team Rankings with all four teams retaining their pre-series rankings - India (first), West Indies (seventh), South Africa (fifth) and Pakistan (sixth).

India's vice-captain Virat Kohli leads the field with South Africa captain AB de Villiers just 17 ratings points behind in second place.

With India playing South Africa in a three-match series from December 5, Kohli and de Villiers could well be facing-off for a stint at the top batting rank.

Meanwhile, South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn has continued his upward move inside the top 10 of the ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers. Steyn has moved up five positions to fifth after claiming 9 wickets in two ODIs against Pakistan.

India's Ravichandran Ashwin has moved up three places to 14th, while Pakistan's Junaid Khan in 19th (up by seven) has moved into the top 20 for the first-time ever.

Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal has maintained his hold on the number-one ranking for ODI bowlers with West Indies' Sunil Narine in second and India's Ravindra Jadeja in third place.

India starts the three-match series against South Africa in Johannesburg, assured of retaining their number-one ranking on the ICC ODI Team Rankings table, irrespective of the outcome of the series.