Dhoni up and India down

Never mind the unexpected drubbing India took at the hands of the Kiwis, who won by a whopping 103 runs in their Champions Trophy warm up match. As of the latest ICC ODI rankings, India regains 2nd place by default, thanks to Australia losing their last match, against England in the recently-concluded NatWest Series. Australia failed to make a clean sweep of the series (6-1) that was required to keep them at the top of the rankings.Australia's loss is India's gain, as the Boys from Oz tumble from their brief stay at the top of the ODI Championship table, down to 3rd place, and India is now ranked No.2, after South Africa. Its crowded at the top though, with only 2 ranking points separating South Africa, India and Australia. Which means the next two weeks at the ICC Champions Trophy could see much toggling amongst these positions.

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is ICC's No. 1 ODI batsman, with 2nd place taken by team mate Yuvraj Singh. India takes up most positions among ICC's top ten for best one-dayer batsmen, with Tendulkar ranking 7th, and Sehwag coming in at no.9. No Indians figure anywhere among the best bowlers list, where the masterful Nuwan Kulasekara (SL) is at the top.

Here are the complete ICC ODI player rankings released Monday, ahead of the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy, starting September 22, in South Africa:

Batsmen:

1. Mahendra Singh Dhoni (IND) 825 points

2. Yuvraj Singh (IND) 778

3. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WIS) 759

4. Chris Gayle (WIS) 756

5. AB de Villiers (RSA) 752

6. Mike Hussey (AUS) 749

7. Sachin Tendulkar (IND) 737

8. Graeme Smith (RSA) 731

9. Virender Sehwag (IND) 721

10. Herschelle Gibbs (RSA) 712

Bowlers:

1. Nuwan Kulasekara (SRI) 731

2. Daniel Vettori (NZL) 694

3. Shakib al-Hasan (BAN) 686

4. Kyle Mills (NZL) 685

5. Muttiah Muralitharan (SRI) 670

6. Nathan Bracken (AUS) 665

7. Shane Bond (NZL) 656

8. Johan Botha (RSA) 655

9. Mitchell Johnson (AUS) 645

9. Mashrafe Mortaza (BAN) 645

All-rounders:

1. Shakib al-Hasan (BAN) 427

2. Yuvraj Singh (IND) 362

3. Jacques Kallis (RSA) 332

3. Jacob Oram (NZL) 332

5. Shahid Afridi (PAK) 323

5. James Hopes (AUS) 323