ICC Test Rankings: Rishabh Pant Breaks Into Top 20, Pujara Takes Number Three Spot
Published - 08 Jan 2019, 02:20 PM | Updated - 22 Aug 2024, 11:58 PM
The combative Indian wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant has shot himself into the top 20 batsmen list in the latest ICC Test rankings. Pant scored a blistering knock of unbeaten 159 in the final and fourth Test match at Sydney to take giant strides in the rankings table. The southpaw batsman has now taken the career-best rank of 17th after making a jump of 21 places.
Pant was the second highest run-getter of the four-match series with 350 runs under his belt. Consequently, the pugnacious left-hander made a big leap in the rankings.
Pant takes his career-best figures.
On the other hand, Cheteshwar Pujara has taken the third place in the ICC rankings. Pujara had the series of his life as he scored 521 runs to be the highest run-scorer of the series. The right-hander played 1258 balls and he was the major difference between the batting unit of the two sides.
Marcus Harris who was Australia’s leading run-getter with 258 runs in the series made a vault of 21 positions to claim 69th rank in rankings ladder.
On the other hand, South Africa was able to take an impregnable lead of 2-0 against Pakistan. Their opener Aiden Markram gained seven places to get to the 10th rank whereas Faf du Plessis jumped by six to claim the 16th spot.
For Pakistan, Asad Shafiq made a jump of five places to take the 24th rank whereas Babar Azam gained two places to move to 25th rank. Shan Masood who top-scored with 189 runs for Pakistan moved up by 22 places to perch at 65th rank.
India’s southpaw all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja once again entered the top five bowlers after his good performance in the final two games. Jadeja also leapfrogged Jason Holder on the all-rounder list to take the second??position after his all-around performance. South Africa’s rookie pacer Duanne Olivier made a jump of four places to take the career-best 32nd rank.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s greenhorn bowler Shaheen Afridi made a massive gain in the rankings. The southpaw pacer took a jump of 31 places to take the career-best 60th rank.
Here are the batsmen rankings:
| Pos | Player | Country | Rating |
| 1 | Virat Kohli IND | IND | 922 |
| 2 | Kane Williamson | NZ | 897 |
| 3 | Cheteshwar Pujara | IND | 881 |
| 4 | Steve Smith | AUS | 874 |
| 5 | Joe Root | ENG | 807 |
| 6 | David Warner | AUS | 772 |
| 7 | Henry Nicholls | NZ | 763 |
| 8 | Dean Elgar | SA | 727 |
| 9 | Dimuth Karunaratne | SL | 715 |
| 10 | Aiden Markram | SA | 698 |
Here are the bowler’s rankings:
| Pos | Player | Country | Rating |
| 1 | Kagiso Rabada SA | SA | 893 |
| 2 | James Anderson | ENG | 874 |
| 3 | Pat Cummins | AUS | 804 |
| 4 | Vernon Philander | SA | 804 |
| 5 | Ravindra Jadeja | IND | 794 |
| 6 | Mohammad Abbas | PAK | 789 |
| 7 | Trent Boult | NZ | 771 |
| 8 | Tim Southee | NZ | 767 |
| 9 | Ravichandran Ashwin | IND | 763 |
| 10 | Jason Holder | WI | 751 |
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