Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has backed away from his claim India could take over as the world's No.1 team if it beats Australia in the current Test series.

India goes to the Boxing Day Test 1-0 up after winning in Adelaide by four wickets.

After that win, Ganguly suggested that if India won the series then his team could be regarded as the best in the world.

Currently India is sixth on the International Cricket Council's world championship table and at best can jump to third if it wins the series 3-0.

After his team drew the three-day match against Australia A, Ganguly said his comments were indicative of where India was aiming, not where it would be.

"We're not number one, that's for sure because the number one team is Australia," Ganguly said when pressed on the issue.

"I don't know what people have understood when I said we wanted to be at the top because any side should look to be the best.

"I hope one day we can be number one. I never said that had the number one tag - I'm not stupid enough to do that and if people read between lines I can't help that."

Ganguly went on to praise Australia for the way it has played under Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting, in the one-day arena.

"The way they've played over the last few years has been phenomenal, winning 16 Test matches in a row and winning a World Cup without dropping a match.

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