India climbed to the top spot in the World Test Championship rankings on Sunday, March 3 after Australia were able to beat New Zealand in the first Test in Wellington.

The Aussies continued their fine run against their Trans-Tasman rivals with a 172-run win on Sunday, to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Ahead of the first Test, New Zealand was perched at the summit with an impressive tally of 36 points from four matches, boasting a points percentage of 75. However, the landscape of the WTC altered dramatically following their substantial loss by 172 runs to Australia. This defeat saw them relinquishing their prime spot, descending to second place with a reduced points percentage of 60. On the other hand, India, previously in second place with 62 points from eight matches, ascended to the top, enhancing their points percentage to 64.58, thereby overtaking New Zealand. Australia's triumph in Wellington not only reshaped the standings but also solidified their position in third place. The victory was notably orchestrated by Nathan Lyon, whose exceptional six-wicket haul in thefourth innings played a pivotal role. With this win, Australia's points increased from 66 to 78, and their points percentage improved from 55 to 59.09. As the 2023 champions, Australia now eyes the possibility of climbing further up the rankings.