India captain Virat Kohli was on Saturday, 24 February, presented the ICC Test Championship Mace as his team retained the top spot in the ICC Test Team Rankings.
On behalf of the ICC, the mace was presented by ICC Cricket Hall of Famers Sunil Gavaskar and Graeme Pollock at a ceremony in Cape Town after India won the series deciding T20, thus concluding India’s tour of South Africa.
India’s victory in the Johannesburg Test against the Proteas last month ensured that no team could move ahead of them in the Test rankings at the 2 April cut-off date. Virat and co thus ensured the one number one spot in the rankings and a prize of 1 million dollars.
It’s truly a great feeling to hold the ICC Test Championship mace again, which is an acknowledgement of our success in the truest format of the game.Virat Kohli, India Captain
“We’re proud of the way we have performed in Test matches over the past couple of years and our performances have reflected in the rankings. The quality of a side is judged in the way players step up when needed, and that is what our boys have done time and again,” Kohli added.
India, who have now been at the top of the rankings since October 2016, have won the prize for a second year running. They have also been at the top two times before under Kohli – in January-February 2016 and in August 2016.
It is heartening to be at the top of the Test rankings in an era when it’s challenging to do consistently well across formats. But that is something that we have managed fairly well and something that I’d like my team to continue doing with their hard work and determination.Virat Kohli, India Captain
Kohli thanked all his teammate as well as support staff for contributing to their success in the longer format of the game.
“I’d like to thank all players who have been part of our squads during this period and also the support staff for contributing to our success and for helping out in different aspects of the game. I’d also like to thank all our fans for supporting us across the globe.”
India’s longest stint at the number-one position in Test rankings was from November 2009 to August 2011, when Mahendra Singh Dhoni was the captain.
The other captains to have received the mace are Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Steve Smith (all Australia), Andrew Strauss (England), Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla (both South Africa) and Misbah-ul-Haq (Pakistan).
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