India hope win over Australia just the start

By N.Ananthanarayanan

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's inspired 2-0 test series win over Australia has given the cricket-crazy country reason to believe it can once again challenge for top spot in the world rankings.

The hosts drove home their superiority against a subdued Australia, winning the second test by a record 320 runs and the final test in Nagpur by 172 runs on Monday.

All four of Australia's test defeats since their 2005 Ashes loss have come against India, and former skipper Ravi Shastri believes there could be a shake-up in the rankings.

"I'm tempted to say that the old world order is over," he wrote in his newspaper column on Tuesday.

The win lifted India to second in the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings, just ahead of South Africa and behind the world champions

"Australia will not be feared any longer. India on the other hand have the future on their hands," he added.

"They seem poised to be the leaders of the world ... India is the team to fear in the world arena."

India have a tremendous home record, having lost just two series, against South Africa in 2000 and Australia in 2004, since defeat to traditional rivals Pakistan in 1987.