Sachin Tendulkar has replaced Ricky Ponting as the top-ranked ODI batsman as per the latest ICC player rankings. His elevation comes on the back of successive match-winning knocks of 117 not out and 91 in the finals of the CB Series against Australia

This is the third time the batting maestro is claiming his spot at the top of the batting rankings. It looks like the old war horse has many more to deliver and lots of unfinished business before he decides to step down from international cricket.

Tendulkar, with 777 rating points, is seven points ahead of Ponting, who had a poor run in the CB Series, scoring 191 runs from 10 matches at 19.10. Graeme Smith the South Africa captain, is at third place. Meanwhile, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has climbed to 10th place, three points below the ninth-placed Herschelle Gibbs.

India's title-triumph has put them on fourth place in the ICC ODI Championship - New Zealand were ahead when the rankings were calculated beyond the decimal point, while Australia, with a rating of 127, are still the best one-day side, ahead of South Africa on decimal points.

South Africa can overtake Australia if they sweep their upcoming three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, but they will remain in second spot if Bangladesh manages a single win.

Top 10 ODI batsmen

Rank Name Rating

1 Sachin Tendulkar 777

2 Ricky Ponting 770

3 Graeme Smith 753

4 Mohammad Yousuf 752

5 Matthew Hayden 740

6 Adam Gilchrist 738

7 Michael Hussey 736

8 Kevin Pietersen 735

9 Herschelle Gibbs 731

10 Mahendra Singh Dhoni 728

ICC ODI Championships (as of March 4)

Rank Name Rating

1 Australia 127

2 South Africa 127

3 New Zealand 113

4 India 113

5 Pakistan 109

6 Sri Lanka 107

7 England 105

8 West Indies 96

9 Bangladesh 47

10 Ireland 28

11 Zimbabwe 18