The top four-ranked Test sides (India, Pakistan, Australia and England) are separated by just 10 points and as these four sides are already or preparing to flex their muscles in the longest format of the game, changes in the upper half of the draw are on the cards depending on how the upcoming series pans out.
However, if India manage to even draw the series against England, they would retain their top position irrespective of the outcome of the Australia versus South Africa (ranked fifth) and the New Zealand versus Pakistan series.
A 3-2 series win will lift India to 116 points, while a 4-1 series win will put them on 119 points and they will jump to 122 points in case of a 5-0 win.
For England, a 3-2 series win will put it on 108 points, while a 4-1 series win will mean it will move ahead of India to 110 points.
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Ashwin leads the field by a distance as he is the only bowler touching the 900-point mark, which, in ranking terms, is considered as outstanding.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja is the other Indian bowler to feature inside the top-10 in seventh position.
Ashwin also heads the Test all-rounders rankings.
In the batsmen's list, no other Indian except Rahane, figures inside top-10.