India go into their five-match series in Sri Lanka with the chance to leap from their current fourth place standing to their previous number one ranking in the ICC ODI Team Rankings.

India last held the number one position briefly in September 2009 but if they achieve a clean sweep against their hosts, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s side will unseat current table-toppers Australia.

The series, which starts in Hambantota tomorrow, brings together the finalists in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, held in Mumbai in April last year.

India won that match by six wickets to lift the trophy for the first time in 28 years.

After years of domination by Australia, the ICC ODI Team Rankings table is now extremely tight after Michael Clarke’s team suffered a 4-0 defeat in England recently.

Only two rating points separate the top four teams with South Africa and England sandwiched between Australia and fourth placed India.