DUBAI, April 16: India's 5-1 demolition of England in the recently held ODI series has taken them to third place in the ICC one-day rankings.

This is India's highest position ever since the rankings were introduced in October 2002.

India have surpassed New Zealand and Pakistan on the charts with their fine run in the shorter version of the game with 17 wins in 22 matches.

They are now just three points behind second-placed South Africa.

If India win both matches against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, they will reduce that margin to a single point.

Australia is perched at the top with a lead of 13 points.

Indian wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's excellent form has propelled him to

second spot among ODI batsmen.

Dhoni, who was fifth in the rankings before the England series, accumulated 177 runs at an average of 59 to gain three places on the charts and is now behind Australian captain Ricky Ponting.—PPI