New Delhi: Virat Kohli has lost the top spot in the International Cricket Council’s Test batting rankings by scoring just 21 runs during India’s 10-wicket defeat in the first Test against New Zealand in Wellington. Kohli is second with 906 points. Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara and Mayank Agarwal are ranked eighth, ninth and 10th respectively in this list.
Rahane, the Indian vice-captain who scored 75 in the first Test, has gained one place. Agarwal has returned to a career-best 10th ranking by scoring 92 runs, including a half-century in the second innings. Pujara has slipped two places after scoring 11–11 in both innings.
Australia’s Steve Smith has once again reached the top after Kohli’s slip. Smith, who became the world’s number one Test batsman for the first time in June 2015, has topped the eighth time. Apart from Smith and Kohli, Kane Williamson last became the world’s number one batsman for eight days in December 2015.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who took three wickets for 99 runs in the first innings against New Zealand, is at the ninth position after losing one place in the bowling list. He is the only Indian bowler in the top 10 with 765 points.
Fast bowler Ishant Sharma, who picked up five wickets in the first Test, returned after the injury to move up one place to 17th. New Zealand fast bowlers Tim Southee and Trent Boult have gained a lot in the rankings, taking nine and five wickets respectively in the first Test against India.
Southee moved up eight places to number six. This is Southey’s best ranking after a career-best fifth ranking in June 2014. Bolt is ranked joint 13th with a gain of four places.
Ravindra Jadeja and Ashwin are at the third and fifth position in the all-rounders’ list. Jadeja did not play in the first Test, while Ashwin, who played zero and four runs, has lost one place.
In the ICC World Test Championship, India continues to lead on 360 points, while Australia is in second place with 296 points. New Zealand have 120 points, scoring 60 points from a win in Wellington.