ICC Test Rankings: Rishabh Pant Breaks Into Top 20, Pujara Takes Number Three Spot

Updated - 08 Jan 2019, 02:20 PM

ICC Test Rankings, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rishabh Pant
Cheteshwar Pujara, Rishabh Pant (Photo by Mark Kolbe - CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images)

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.

Australia vs India 2018-19 | Rishabh Pant | MSK Prasad |
Rishabh Pant. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

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.

Australia vs India 2018/19, Cheteshwar Pujara, VVS Laxman
Cheteshwar Pujara (Credits – Getty)

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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ICC Test Rankings Rishabh Pant